When was the last time you pulled an item out of your refrigerator only to find it had expired? For me, it was just this week. I bet that if we checked every item in our refrigerators or cabinets, we would find more expired items than we ever would expect. Merriam-Webster describes the word expired as “exceeding a period of validity.” Mayonnaise, turkey, and milk are not the only things that have a shelf life. Leaders do too. Symptoms include loss of motivation, decreased learning, desire for more time doing activities other than work, and adding less value to the organization. While age is one factor in leaders sometimes losing their shelf life, it can also be prevalent in younger leaders. To extend our shelf life as leaders, focus on these eight activities.
1. Keep your ego grounded.
Cornell professor Ken Blanchard once referred to ego as “Edging God Out.” Ego is often reflected in one of the diseases that strike leaders – entitlement. An older leader may feel that she is entitled to special treatment solely based on tenure rather than merit. A younger leader may feel that he is worthy of elite treatment due to his credentials or how often he has been affirmed when younger. Regardless of the cause, an elevated ego is a sure way to reach your shelf life.
2. Ask others to speak up.
It is common that when leaders inch closer to their shelf-life date, they manifest symptoms of it but are not self-aware. In fact, they see themselves as adding great value. This is why leaders who extend their shelf-life regularly ask others to tell them how they are being perceived including if they are thought to be coasting or manifesting an overactive sense of entitlement.
3. Manage your energy bank.
Just like computers, cell phones, and cars, leaders have limited energy. Some seem to possess an unending reserve while others seem to be drained most of the time. Everyone has limits, and the energy levels of a leader fluctuate based upon a variety of influences including season of life, physical or emotional health, and personal interests. Leaders who extend their shelf-life manage their energy with care, treating it as a precious commodity that is in limited supply.
4. Surround yourself with an awesome team.
The responsibilities of leading today are seriously heavy and not for those who are weak. Leaders who have the longest shelf-life surround themselves with an awesome team – people who are motivated, positive, hardworking, and fun to be with. When these leaders have to walk into a firestorm, they know they are not alone. They have a team of warriors who are standing with them. Thousands of years ago, the writer of Ecclesiastes (a book in the Old Testament of the Bible) wrote that two are better than one because they can support one another.
5. Carefully manage your personal life hotspots.
If you have ever had a dog, you have likely seen a hotspot – that one area where it becomes so inflamed and irritated that it takes everything to stop your dog from focusing on it. Leaders are human – they too have hot spots but of a different nature. A struggling child, an unhappy spouse, a parent with dementia, or an overwhelming debt load. If you live life long enough, hot spots will emerge. A leader who has an extended shelf-life cannot always avoid hot spots, but with the help of others, they can manage them in a way that prevents an early expiration.
6. Embrace humility.
I recently read about the decline of two of America's once-largest companies – General Electric and Ford. The stories of these amazing businesses made for a fascinating read. And while all companies experience economic and technological disruptions, these two companies were deeply impacted as much by arrogance as by any external force. Henry Ford himself said, “The internal ailments of business are the ones that require the most attention.” The same can be said for leaders. Arrogance is an internal ailment that requires attention. Leaders who have a long shelf life embrace humility and strive to box out the pride that often accompanies positional power and success.
7. Accelerate your learning.
After finishing their schooling, some never pick up a book or stretch themselves ever again! Others, as they age, gravitate towards recreational reading and less towards disciplined learning. I recently read the biography of a man who lived to be 103 and never learned how to read until he was 98 – and he went to school EVERY DAY to do so, no matter what. It is never too late to learn. Leaders who resist early expiration remain in the learning fast lane, seeking to stay sharp and aware of what is emerging in the world as well as in their field.
8. Stay nimble.
Rig.or mor.tis – rigidity of muscles occurring after death (Merriam-Webster). Sometimes leaders experience rigor mortis while still alive and maybe even young. Such rigidness may be reflected in black-and-white thinking, resistance to change, or unwillingness to try something different. If leaders want to extend their shelf life and not be viewed as an obstacle or curmudgeon, they will intentionally strive to stay nimble, including spending time with people who think differently, and to show some enthusiasm for change.
To learn more about how leadership coaching can help to extend your leadership shelf life, contact us.
Jay Desko is the President & CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
