EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is my two-part response to Luis Lima’s LinkedIn post, “A Vision Deficit.”
Here is the opening paragraph from the above post:
“In the ever-shifting sands of the business world, where innovation is the only constant, the so-called “formulas for success” are as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane. They morph, evolve, and sometimes, they are flipped on their heads—either by an oversight that rivals the surprise of finding a pineapple on a pizza or by a bold move akin to wearing socks with sandals. When the dust-covered manuals of yesteryear’s strategies crumble, companies stand at a crossroads: adapt or become the next exhibit in the corporate museum of ‘What Not to Do.'”
My Take On The Post
Part 1 of 2
The core rules for success do not change. People change by forgetting what made them successful in the first place. Here is the link to an article I wrote earlier today – https://bit.ly/3yPC38B
When they started out, they had a vision and ideals of how they were going to best serve their clients. It was all about asking, listening, and solving problems. Success is never easy, but it is certain and enjoyable when you seek to serve others.
However, something happens when an organization reaches the critical point of building and maintaining success. Slowly and imperceptibly, the focus shifts to quarterly results, stock prices, and perhaps meeting VC demands. It is no longer a solutions game but a numbers game. As you fall deeper into that spiral, the “old” leaders suddenly become obsolete reminders of a past that is now long forgotten and replaced not by visionaries but by “professional executives” who have little if any history with the company at which they are now at the helm.
Part 2 of 2
Of course, anyone from the early days must be dispensed with alacrity. At that point, the company forgoes asking its customers what they need and, with a hint of superiority, tells them what they should have based on the new taskmasters’ vision of success.
At that point, it is not a matter of if but when the inevitable happens – Rome Falls, and Britain no longer rules the waves.
While there were undoubtedly external forces at work, the fact is that the fall of any great empire rots from the inside out. In the corporate world, that rot takes the form of profit over people, selling to the client rather than serving them, and a failure to adapt to rather than embrace change through communication and collaboration.
Going back to my initial point, success – especially sustained success is never easy, but it is achievable when you don’t lose touch with the core values that made you great in the first place.
Procurement Insights
What does poor leadership look like?
Posted on June 9, 2024
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is my two-part response to Luis Lima’s LinkedIn post, “A Vision Deficit.”
Here is the opening paragraph from the above post:
“In the ever-shifting sands of the business world, where innovation is the only constant, the so-called “formulas for success” are as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane. They morph, evolve, and sometimes, they are flipped on their heads—either by an oversight that rivals the surprise of finding a pineapple on a pizza or by a bold move akin to wearing socks with sandals. When the dust-covered manuals of yesteryear’s strategies crumble, companies stand at a crossroads: adapt or become the next exhibit in the corporate museum of ‘What Not to Do.'”
My Take On The Post
Part 1 of 2
The core rules for success do not change. People change by forgetting what made them successful in the first place. Here is the link to an article I wrote earlier today – https://bit.ly/3yPC38B
When they started out, they had a vision and ideals of how they were going to best serve their clients. It was all about asking, listening, and solving problems. Success is never easy, but it is certain and enjoyable when you seek to serve others.
However, something happens when an organization reaches the critical point of building and maintaining success. Slowly and imperceptibly, the focus shifts to quarterly results, stock prices, and perhaps meeting VC demands. It is no longer a solutions game but a numbers game. As you fall deeper into that spiral, the “old” leaders suddenly become obsolete reminders of a past that is now long forgotten and replaced not by visionaries but by “professional executives” who have little if any history with the company at which they are now at the helm.
Part 2 of 2
Of course, anyone from the early days must be dispensed with alacrity. At that point, the company forgoes asking its customers what they need and, with a hint of superiority, tells them what they should have based on the new taskmasters’ vision of success.
At that point, it is not a matter of if but when the inevitable happens – Rome Falls, and Britain no longer rules the waves.
While there were undoubtedly external forces at work, the fact is that the fall of any great empire rots from the inside out. In the corporate world, that rot takes the form of profit over people, selling to the client rather than serving them, and a failure to adapt to rather than embrace change through communication and collaboration.
Going back to my initial point, success – especially sustained success is never easy, but it is achievable when you don’t lose touch with the core values that made you great in the first place.
Thoughts?
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