Leaders: Learn to Channel Your Inner Child
In Aspiring Managers: Learn to Behave Like Adults, I challenged managers to grow up and behave like mature adults:
What does that mean? It means being as honest, comfortable, and empathetic with your own issues and shortcomings as you are with your strengths and skills. Only then can you do the same for others, and that's what good managers do.But there's a flipside to the argument. There are certain characteristics of children and youth that are surprisingly beneficial for leaders. For example, Silicon Valley is full of tireless technologists and wide-eyed entrepreneurs who act more like excited children with new toys than top executives of hot companies.
Sure, they can be annoying at times, especially if you're having a bad day, but that's beside the point. That youthful enthusiasm is a big part of the innovation loop that fuels much of corporate America. And trying to breed it out of our leaders in the name of maturity would be a disaster.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that some of these characteristics are counterintuitive and, if taken to extreme, counterproductive. But on balance, they can be tremendous leadership qualities.
5 Ways for Leaders to Channel Your Inner Child:
- Be tireless and focused in the pursuit of your passion. When children aren't getting their way, they've all got attention deficit disorder. But when they've got their mind set on something, something they want, something they love, they're determined and relentless in the pursuit of their goal.
- Be stubborn in the face of resistance and adversity. Every successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist will tell you, the most brilliant ideas that spawn the hottest companies are initially shunned by nearly everyone. There are times when you absolutely have to get past that resistance. As Steve Jobs once said, "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice."
- Don't park your ego at the door. Speaking of counterintuitive, I've written more about the evils of childish, big-ego executives than any other topic. That said, all great leaders have a strong sense of self and a healthy ego to go with it. It's all about balance, like knowing when to extend your ego to inspire and motivate the troops and when to reel it in and be humble to win a big customer.
- Throw a tantrum when things don't go your way. This one's definitely going to get some people riled up. Ever seen Bill Gates or Andy Grove when people just didn't "get it?" Okay, you probably haven't, but I know people who have and it isn't pretty. Now, I'm not saying execs should be abusive, but there are times when it's okay to pound the table and curse a little. Like it or not, that's the way it is in the real world.
- Have fun. Those who say, "It's called work for a reason" are full of it. Of course it's work; but if you're not enjoying it on some level, even if just for the sense of accomplishment, then you're not going to be much of a leader. People follow those who seem to enjoy what they do. The more genuine that is, the better. Besides, having fun is part of "building history" which helps in creating a cohesive team.
- Aspiring Managers: Learn to Behave Like Adults
- 10 Aspects of Executive Presence
- 7 Rules for Building a Kick-Ass Team