Learning to lead is like climbing a mountain for which there is no summit

Level Five leaders are developed over time. Indeed, considerable time. It takes a very special person to be blessed with a paradoxical mix of humility, persistence, and of course, competence. No one is born with these skills; rather, it takes a lifetime of education, experience, and mentoring in the school of hard knocks. Leaders are developed, not born. Frankly, the journey is akin to climbing a very high mountain for which there is no summit. We never arrive, but commit ourselves to the journey of continuous improvement.

What Do I Do When the Boss Doesn’t Get It?

In several of our recent Level Five leadership presentations, seminars, workshops, and discussions, we’ve been asked: “What do I do when the Boss doesn’t get it?” The sense of frustration in this question is palpable, and because we’ve been there we know the feelings are genuine and deep seated. No one wants to be in an environment where the person in charge does not share the values-based leadership goals of the rest of the team. Establishing and sustaining a culture of excellence seems impossible if the CEO won’t accept the need to embrace integrity as an absolute – and then “walk the talk.”