The Point: As we approach the end of another year at Tip of the Spear, we challenged the leadership we work with to design their best 2015 Strategic Plan. However, we noticed that in order to do so some leaders simply could not let go of 2014. In 2014, some leaders experienced exponential growth, some stayed the same, and some regressed. So the thought struck us, and those we asked, are you better off forgetting about the past in order to achieve a better future? Hence the concept of leadership amnesia was hatched. In this post, we’ll take a look at how you, the leader, can forget to move forward… Enjoy!
Amnesia’s Leadership Potential
Wouldn’t it be great if as a leader you could simply rid yourself of the past? What if you never had to worry about where you’ve been as a leader (or organization for that matter)? Instead, what if you could focus 100% on the road at hand, and more importantly on the road ahead?
With ‘leadership amnesia’ you’d have the opportunity to forget about memories such as facts, information, and experiences. While it’s popular in some movies involving amnesia to have the affected portray someone with no sense of who they are, the reality is typically one not involving a sense of loss of self-identity. But again, for our purposes here, wouldn’t it be nice if it did?
What Should You Focus On?
Here’s a list then of 6 Tips you can take to increase your leadership amnesia for a better/brighter future:
Leadership Amnesia Tip #6 – Do Research and Reading
While sometimes in leadership development we find a leader that knows exactly where they want to go, typically this is not the case. Identification of desired destinations is crucial in strategic planning. While the routes may differ, and ultimately the landing point on the distant shore, you simply must prepare for and plan where you want to head through research and reading. Leadership development has no finish line, so continue to plan, prep, and grow!
Leadership Amnesia Tip #5 – Get Quality Treatment
We all know that destiny favors the prepared mind (See Step #6 above for Research and Reading). However, having the knowledge is part of the success equation when dealing with leadership amnesia. Seeking quality treatment in the form of leadership development and executive coaching is crucial to not only setting the proper strategic plan in motion, but insuring that you are held accountable for desired results.
Leadership Amnesia Tip #4 – Communicating the Strategic Plan Effectively
We run a program for leadership only in our ‘Communicate with Influence’ communication skills training for leaders program titled ‘Communicating the Strategic Plan’. In this program, we typically see very educated people that are masters at preparing a strategy. However, their plans’ downfall is in the execution with primary culprit being not effectively communicating the plan.
Leadership Amnesia Tip #3 – Hold Treatment Effectiveness Discussions
In Step #5 we discussed aligning with the proper leadership development and executive coaching initiatives. At Tip of the Spear, we typically conduct 12-18 month engagements with leaders and their organizations to insure that strategic plans are established, leaders know their behavioral strengths, and implementations targets are established. In this step we’re referring to checking in on those treatment moments to insure that you/your organization is getting the appropriate return on investment (ROI). Typically, a leadership development program will run an organization an investment of $100,000+ and executive coaching for an individual executive $50,000. Why not hold your treatment providers accountable for achieving results?
Leadership Amnesia Tip #2 – Insure Leadership Quality of Life
While we’ll be the first to share with you that there is no such thing as work-life balance (we typically share that at best you can attempt to structure the appropriate amount of imbalance!), we do know that the most successful executives that we work with maintain a healthy quality of life through not only forgetting the past, but letting go of the burdens/stress/worry associated therein.
Leadership Amnesia Tip #1 – Look After Yourself (and Your Family!)
While work in and of itself allows for a successful non-work life, we typically see leaders looking to burn candles at both ends, drive hard towards unattainable goals, and basically screw not only themselves but families as well. Looking after yourself and family through similar strategic planning sessions (and the assistance of ‘treatments’ through executive coaching) can greatly enhance your ability to succeed with leadership amnesia.
Summary
In closing, the previous 6 tips to incorporate leadership amnesia should set you, your organization, and your family in an enhanced trajectory for success. As one leader shared with us, “I know that if I forget I’m bound to repeat the past. However, I also know that the past is what got me here. While I don’t care to run another lap on the same track, I know that I can get further ahead faster if I forget!”
If you’d like more information on Tip of the Spear Business Advisory Services, consisting of Centered Executive Coaching (hallmarked by the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Executive Coaching methodology), Leadership Development (constructed around Kouze and Posner’s ‘Leadership Challenge’ methodology), and Communication Skills Training for Leaders use the CONTACT US page of this website.
