This is going to date me, but I used to be- or still am- a die hard Star Trek: Next Generation fan.
The best thing that will probably come true from that show is the invention of a holodeck. In it, crew members are able to experience an alternate or wished reality within the confines of the ship. They never had to leave the 4 walls of the holodeck and could have any experience that they wanted.
However, there was that one episode where the alternate reality became a reality and everyone inside got stuck. That alternate reality turned into a nightmare.
I think there are times when leaders live in that alternate reality, yet their employees or direct reports are experiencing something completely different.
Leaders that are arrogant have undergone reality distortion LASIK. It can't be undone until that reality is shorted out by some type of crisis.
Is that good or bad?
Good for the leader.
Bad for everyone that works for that leader.
At some point the gap between a leader and his / her people becomes so large, that the people won't want to deal with it anymore.
It's hidden in the attrition rate. The reason that it's hidden is because leaders expect a certain attrition rate. As long as that attrition rate stays at a certain %, no one is going to blink an eye.
I like to think of things in terms of attrition velocity. If someone starts on Monday and quits on Friday, I have a problem.
Unfortunately, there is no 'leadership is out of touch' check box when going through the exit interview.
And the alternate reality continues.
Effective leaders are in touch with their business enough to know when that gap exists. More importantly, they have the guts to do something about it.
Maybe that's why there aren't that many of them.
The best thing that will probably come true from that show is the invention of a holodeck. In it, crew members are able to experience an alternate or wished reality within the confines of the ship. They never had to leave the 4 walls of the holodeck and could have any experience that they wanted.
However, there was that one episode where the alternate reality became a reality and everyone inside got stuck. That alternate reality turned into a nightmare.
I think there are times when leaders live in that alternate reality, yet their employees or direct reports are experiencing something completely different.
Leaders that are arrogant have undergone reality distortion LASIK. It can't be undone until that reality is shorted out by some type of crisis.
Is that good or bad?
Good for the leader.
Bad for everyone that works for that leader.
At some point the gap between a leader and his / her people becomes so large, that the people won't want to deal with it anymore.
It's hidden in the attrition rate. The reason that it's hidden is because leaders expect a certain attrition rate. As long as that attrition rate stays at a certain %, no one is going to blink an eye.
I like to think of things in terms of attrition velocity. If someone starts on Monday and quits on Friday, I have a problem.
Unfortunately, there is no 'leadership is out of touch' check box when going through the exit interview.
And the alternate reality continues.
Effective leaders are in touch with their business enough to know when that gap exists. More importantly, they have the guts to do something about it.
Maybe that's why there aren't that many of them.
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