I was recently asked to talk to our local Chamber of Commerce Leadership Forum about “lessons learned” as CEO. Scott & White has grown rapidly, had many challenges, and even some false starts over the last decade. Many of these lessons learned I have already spoken to in this blog. Executive team development, listening before making decisions, communicating (and communicating and communicating), and leaving one’s ego outside, to name a few.
So, I came up with the Top Ten reasons, you might NOT be a leader. The listing idea comes via David Letterman and the “NOT be a leader” mirrors comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s “you might be a Redneck” routine. To both, I apologize:
10. If you think a hard decision is when to get out of bed in the morning, you might NOT be a leader.
9. If you think losing your temper is a great management tool, you might NOT be a leader.
8. If you think the whole place will fall apart if you are NOT managing every aspect of the business, you might NOT be a leader.
7. If you say “boo” and expect someone will actually jump, you might NOT be a leader.
6. If you think GenXers love to wear ties and go to meetings, you might NOT be a leader.
5. If you think listening means to stop talking only while taking a breath, you might NOT be a leader.
4. If you think your management team really like each other, you might NOT be a leader.
3. If you think that life-work balance means working eight hours before AND eight hours after noon each day, you might NOT be a leader.
2. If you think your spouse really likes for you to come home early, you might NOT be a leader.
and finally,
1. If you think your ego should have the last word, all the time, you might NOT be a leader.
Comedy speaks to us on a very different level, but it’s usually just as honest and poignant as blunt-force trauma.