Why CEOs Need to Pay More Attention to the True Cost of Weak Leadership

The definition of leadership in modern origination has evolved over the last 20 years, becoming very exclusive rather than inclusive. Merriam-Webster’s traditional meaning is “a position as a leader of a group, organization, etc. … the power or ability to lead other people.” In line with that definition, 91% of respondents to the Millennial Leadership Study, conducted by WorkplaceTrends.com and Virtuali, aspire to be a leader. While almost half of the millennials queried define leadership as “empowering others to succeed,” 43% said their biggest motivator to be a leader was to empower others.

These noble sentiments, however, miss a critical point. Every person is, or should be, his or her own leader. Believing that only a few qualified people have the right to be a leader is inherently incorrect. To be a responsible family member, community member, citizen, employee, colleague, business manager, or executive, every individual must be a personal leader. If they are not, how can people claim to lead others?

THE HIDDEN COST OF DISENGAGEMENT

Understanding that one should not seek leadership in others is the starting point to truly strive toward having a better family, community, society, organisation, corporation, and nation.

Should the status quo change with a new definition of leadership, consider the tremendous responsibility it would place on the shoulders of parents, community leaders, government officials, corporate shareholders, and executives. Nevertheless, this key transformation should be a top priority. If ignored, weak leadership in any endeavor has the potential to rapidly consume our natural, human, and financial resources.

This reinvented definition is urgent, vital, and the most important ingredient to achieving fulfillment and success in our personal lives, communities, societies, and organisations. Every passing day is lost to mediocracy, unhappiness, inefficiency, conflict, untapped human effort, and underperforming organisations. Without individuals accepting the challenge to take the lead on a personal level, no sustainable solution exists to our diverse problems.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE STATUS QUO

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