New Reality
Today, it seems everyone believes they could have done it better, whether or not they have the skill, tools, or experience to tackle the task. Cynicism and snark are valued by many over honest effort that falls short. It’s becoming increasingly clear that there are some who will use a momentary lapse in judgment or understanding to tear down an organization or a person who might otherwise have an unblemished, longstanding record of service and support.
Critics today weigh in instantly on decisions after the fact - never mind they have no real understanding of the issues at play in many of the real decisions of the day nor have never led an organization making this type of decision before. We seem to be blessed with a new breed of critic today – the newly elected leader, the activist board member or new age journalist (read anyone with a keyboard and a platform) who has no real experience that might provide worthy, honest insight or credibility into the decision. They simply have a “mandate,” an opinion, and a platform which gives them voice, not to mention, because they are not in the arena - the time to offer their version of the “truth.”
And their “truth” or critique – while sometimes well intended - can honestly just be wrong. They may not have all of the facts and the benefit of the deliberations leading to the decision. Or they can simply be misinformed. Their version of the truth can be designed to advance an alternative narrative or to take advantage of the moment or emotion around the incident. Yet, an emotion-driven perspective from someone with voice rather than responsibility often competes for airspace and credibility in an unfiltered and unbridled environment.
Today, there are more and more leadership critics posting comments posing as truth offered publicly to make others look small or to cause damage through misinformation and innuendo. People are being led to connect dots through social and other media to create a narrative that serves an audience rather than the leadership, the truth or an organization.
Sadly, this is all too frequently coupled with a growing trend in society, the need to appear to be in the know, to be more relevant than the current position or situation allows a critic to be. This troubling new ethos empowers some users of traditional and non-traditional media to publicly humiliate others – to make leaders look bad, small, or insignificant in order for the commentator or author to grow in his or her own social status as measured by clicks, forwards, and likes.
In the book Leadership in Crisis, we will consider the new world leaders must navigate. I will share some of my story and the stories of others who have faced potentially defining moments in their leadership careers. I will offer practical tips and insights into leadership strategies that successful leaders and the research supports.
