Experts say leadership failure has many signs but they have narrowed the cause to a few that stand out. Few site competence, or knowledge, or lack of experience. When Claudio Fernando-Araoz, head of research for the executive recruitment firm Egon Zehnder International, looked at CEOs who had succeeded and those who had failed, he found the same pattern in America, Germany and Japan: those who failed were hired on the basis of their drive, IQ, and business expertise – but fired for lack of emotional intelligence. They simply could not win over, or sometimes even just get along with, their board of directors, or their direct reports, or others on whom their own success depended.”
In 1999, CEO consultant and advisor RamCharan and Fortune’s Geoffrey Colvin studied over 40 failed CEOs from Fortune 500 companies to see what went wrong. They identified the fatal flaw of these CEOs as execution. But the reason for the execution failure was even simpler and more basic. The problem was with people, specifically their inability in not having the right person in the right job. In some case they held on to some people too long, in other cases they were unable to coach them in the desired direction.
In their Fortune article, Charan and Colvin explained that unsuccessful CEOs lacked emotional strength when it came down to personnel decisions. In short, the fatal flaw of “failure to execute” was due to bad personnel decisions.
Ronald Riggio, the Henry Kravis professor of leadership and organizationqal Psychology at Claremont McKenna College, and author of “The Clueless Leader,” thinks leaders in dysfunctional organizations are simply out of touch with how bad things are. He compares them to Michael Scott from the TV show “The Office,” who simply doesn’t realize how bad thing are or simply doesn’t care. Riggio recalls discussing with the president of one organization the possibility of an employee survey to try to get a handle on how disgruntled employees had become. “Why would we want to do that?” was the clueless response.
There are no universal ways to prevent failures, except perhaps to be alert for the warning signs. In today’s culture some executives are larger than life and expected to be perfect. Few like to admit they have flaws—even when those around them can plainly see their flaws.
Candid feedback is seen as helpful and a corrective, but who can provide this? Not employees or board members. A confidante, mentor or a trusted coach can help. But in today’s high-pressure environment, leaders need someone they can trust to tell the truth about their behavior. This is where an outside professional executive coach can help leaders reduce or eliminate blind spots and be open to constructive feedback, not only reducing the likelihood of failure, and premature burnout, but also provide an atmosphere in which the executive can express fears, failures and dreams.
Read: https://www.leadershipnow.com/leadershop/6763-7.html
Read: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenmakovsky/2012/03/22/the-reason-ceos-fail-an-update/
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
