2 Harsh Realities All Leaders Should Know

His name was Frank.  Frank had just resigned and was cleaning out his desk.  Hoping for an emotional farewell from his co-workers, he looked forward to Rick coming by his cubicle.  Rick arrived at Frank’s cubicle with his chair.  Frank oddly looked at Rick’s chair.  Rick said, “Frank, we’re going to miss you.  I like your chair better than mine.  I’m switching them out.”  And Rick returned to his cubicle with Frank’s chair in tow.  I remember the scene well.
Frank had a new job.  Rick had a new chair.  Life goes on.
Tonight I was being a great dad by spending time with my teenage daughter watching an old episode of Gilmore Girls.  While watching this lighthearted comedy, I was reminded of Frank and Rick’s chair exchange and 2 Harsh Realities All Leaders Should Know.
In the show’s opening scene, one of the town’s leaders called everyone together for a 3:00 AM impromptu video meeting.  In an almost broken-hearted fashion, he informed the sleep deprived collection of leaders he would be unable to run the town fair.  A disgusted councilwoman looked at someone seated on the front row and said, “Will you run it?”  He said, “Yes” and everyone began leaving to go back home and back to bed.
Here is the first Harsh Reality – Everyone, Even You, Is Replaceable.  If you resign, you will be replaced within seconds.  You likely already have many people in your organization who think they can do your job better than you and are just waiting for the opportunity to show it.  Next Man Up is not just a sports phrase.  It is a leadership reality regardless of your profession.  Life goes on without you.
It was then I was reminded of the second Harsh Reality – No One Cares What The Former Leader Thinks.  As the crowd was filing out, the now-former organizer of the fair was giving suggestions about how to make it successful.  He felt he was imparting vital information, information critical to the fair’s success, and wisdom which could only gained from his vast experience.  However, no one was listening and he eventually was speaking to an empty room.
When you are no longer the leader, you lose most if not all of your influence.  You have moved on and so have the people.  The people’s attention is now directed towards the new leader.  The new leader also has a new vision.  So if you cannot emotionally handle the loss of influence and “not being the man”, be careful about leaving your position.  Life goes on without you.
Understanding these two Harsh Realities while still holding your position actually makes you a better leader.  If forces you to put the good of the organization ahead of your personal platform or preferences.  You also understand the organization will outlast you and therefore you should want it to be a sustainable success.  There is no success without succession.
Life goes on without you.  As it should.

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