In this unprecedented downturn, many leaders are focused only on survival, but rebounds belong to the ready ... essential paradox of leadership is the ability to do and dream at the same time.In normal times, the central challenge of leadership is balancing your organization's short- and long-term needs.
Everyone knows that.
You manage people, sales, and costs to hit immediate financial commitments, and you simultaneously invest in future projects to capture market trends and ensure a going concern.
As we've characterized it before, this essential paradox of leadership is the ability to do and dream at the same time.
Today, however, most managers are only doing.
They're fixated on the short term. We understand; they have tobe, for sheer survival. They're reducing staff, slashing costs, and squeezing productivity. They're sweating the details like never before and pushing people to find the innovative killer app that could save the organization.
Leaders need to exude positive energy. Define vision. Build great teams. Care. Reward. Teach. Decide. Innovate. Execute.
Inventing the future is one crucial definition of leadership ... more
