Lencioni gives us another of his business fables to describe the unavoidable temptations of a leader--specifically an executive with direct reports.
He makes the claim that being an executive is simple, not complicated. But that doesn't mean it's easy.
There are five temptations an executive face. Each person will tend toward one temptation more than the others. Being a good executive does not mean removing the temptation altogether. Lencioni says this is not possible. Rather, it means you admit your tendency toward a temptation, and you identify any crutches you use because of it.
The five temptations are to
- Put your personal status before company results
- Choose your own popularity over holding your people accountable
- Choose certainty of action over clarity of action
- Choose harmony with your people over productive conflict
- Choose invulnerability over an environment of trust
Rather than saying everything in terms of what not to do, here is a brief version of what Lencioni says an executive should be doing:
Creating an environment of trust, setting expectations for achieving results (the only measure of success that matters), and holding your people accountable to those expectations.
Lencioni says the three most powerful words an executive can say are, "I was wrong." You need to be proud to say those words to create an environment of trust over invulnerability (temptation 5).
None of this is groundbreaking stuff. But the book is a quick, powerful reminder of what to avoid and what to focus on.
Only 1hr 30min on Audible!