By Billy Arcement—The Candid Cajun
Copyright 2021
I have a book in my library entitled, The Five Temptations of a CEO by Patrick Lencioni. I thought his five points worthy of sharing with you. While primarily focused on business decisions, they each transcend into other facets of our life. Why not compare Lencioni’s choices with those you’ve been making?
Temptation # 1: Choosing status over results. When placed in a leadership position, individuals can get caught up in the bliss of status. Their ego overpowers their common sense, and in the heat of tough decision-making, they make the wrong choices. Business success is always about results. Titles are nice but, they don’t pay the bills. Think results. That is the bottom line.
Temptation # 2: Choosing popularity over accountability. Too often, leaders get caught in the “I want to be liked” syndrome. Yes, being liked is important but getting things done is essential. If you make the wrong choices and don’t hold yourself and everyone in the organization accountable for getting results, you may be popular, but you will also soon be unemployed. Strive for a balance but never forget it is always about getting the job done. Business survival depends upon everyone doing their job. And leaders must hold everyone accountable to see that this is what happens.
Temptation # 3: Choosing certainty over clarity. Decisions carry risks no matter how much thought goes into making the decisions. Leaders cannot afford to wait until all the lights are green before advancing. They understand that some red lights are OK. Waiting until every minute detail is available before making decisions removes your ability to hold others accountable and to get the desired results you seek. Don’t be reckless but don’t wait until you believe you’ve achieved perfection either.
Temptation # 4: Choosing harmony over productive conflict. Hearing an opinion different from yours can be the best news you’ll ever hear. When employees are afraid to argue or disagree with you, you’ve lost the game of leadership. It’s nice to have harmony but, a little off-key singing can be productive. Insisting that harmony is king will send issues underground, never to be seen again until it is too late. A little conflict can be good for the constitution and even better for the bottom line.
Temptation # 5: Choosing invulnerability over trust. Admitting vulnerability is not a sign of weakness. Instead, it is a strength of great leaders. They are not afraid to openly profess their weaknesses and willingly seek support from the organization to shore up their weaknesses. Knowing your shortcomings allows you to overcome them. Yes, the pain can be difficult to bear. But it is the long-term results that are more important than an awkward moment of vulnerability.
Well, how do you rate? Measure your leadership style against these five ideas. Seek to implement the right choices when you make leadership decisions about your career and or personal life. Success will not happen by osmosis. We must get into the game and make things happen. Resisting these temptations is a good start.