The Uncomfortable Reality of Leadership

If you're a founder or a leader, it is very easy to point fingers when things go sideways – bad market conditions, a tough economy, a team that is "challenging."

But let's be real about where the buck truly stops. 
It stops with us. 
If you're not articulating a clear vision, it’s your fault. (Through self-reflection one can come to realize that they, the leader, didn't take the time in articulating a prospectus.) 
If you're not hiring great people, it’s your fault. (Did you rush the process? Did you lower the bar?)
If you're not building a great culture, it’s your fault. (Culture is established by what you tolerate, not what you write on a wall.) 
If you’re not challenging and encouraging your people, it’s your fault. (You forgot you think about the multiplier of people.) 
If you’re not raising the bar of talent, it’s your fault. (People rise or fall to the level of leadership they are given). We love celebrating the wins, but the real test of a founder or leader is what you own when things are tough.
​If you're looking for external reasons why your team is lagging, your culture is weak, or your product is stalling—stop. Look in the mirror. If you don’t have a clear vision, it's because you haven't done the deep work of defining it and repeating it until it hurts. 
Accountability isn't a burden; it's the job description.

 

This is not about being guilty, it's about taking the ownership.

Accountability is not a burden, it's a hallmark of great leaders.

We can't fix what we don't first claim ownership of.

Founders and leaders should take the ownership or go do it.

The minute you stop blaming the market, the team, or the competitors, you gain the power to change everything. Ownership is the ignition switch for growth.

​We should be accountable for everything that happens under our roof, shouldn't we?

#LeadershipLessons #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture