Page 59 - Trends

Management Programme, I meet hun-
dreds of executives who deepen their
self-awareness and commit to closing
the gaps holding them back from being
the best leader they can be.

Altitude sickness
However, in my research work, I was
startled to discover that approximately 70
percent of senior executives display a phe-
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become disproportionally trapped at one
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ibility can be dangerous for themselves,
their teams and their organizations.
The largest group is those who almost
never leave the 50-foot sphere and even-
tually become resistant to change. Ram
Charan describes them as stuck in the
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open themselves to new ideas and the
outside world. Just think of the leaders of
Kodak. Leaders caught in 50-foot think-
ing see neither the opportunities nor the
threats of disruption. While being effec-
tive at the tactical level of 50 feet is es- Three leadership altitudes are: 50,000 feet, 50 feet and five feet. Effective
sential for business performance — and
is often richly rewarded — it can become leaders develop the capacity to “fly” their thinking at all three altitudes.
a dangerous comfort zone.
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sickness is trapped at 50,000 feet. Living ship altitudes. The time spent at each you’re doing, why you’re doing it and how
´LQ WKH FORXGVµ VXFK OHDGHUV DQQRXQFH D is not likely to be identical. However, you can challenge yourself to be the best
new vision every other week. As Nelson OHDGHUV ZKR FDQ FRQVFLRXVO\ DQG ÁH[LEO\ OHDGHU WKDW \RX FDQ EH ÀYH IHHW ,Q WKLV
Mandela said: “Vision without action is think, act and communicate at the three leadership journey, support your growth
merely day dreaming. But vision with ac- different altitudes are perceived as ex- by getting coaching, mentoring and feed-
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The third, yet much smaller group with 6R P\ DGYLFH LV VLPSOH 5HÁHFW XSRQ and learning. Consciously create a set of
altitude sickness comprises perhaps the your leadership and your direction, and mindsets and habits that work effectively
most problematic leaders of all: those then practise thinking, acting and com- across all three leadership altitudes: from
WUDSSHG DW ÀYH IHHW 7KHVH VXSHU HJRLVWV municating at the different altitudes. the big picture, to the tactical, to the self.
and narcissists spend an excessively large Even if you’re not responsible for setting Connect them all. Just avoid altitude
amount of time thinking about them- your organization’s vision, spend some sickness.
selves. The archetypal micro-managers, time each week thinking and learning
they get in everybody’s way. This group about the outside world, its possibilities,
includes psychopathic leaders and others its changes, its trends and the resulting Ian C. Woodward is Professor of Management Practice at
suffering from mental disorders. opportunities or threats, now and in the INSEAD, specializing in Leadership and Communication.
future (50,000 feet). He is Director of the Advanced Management Programme,
Fighting altitude sickness Likewise, allot time for executing, im- an INSEAD Executive Education Programme held in
Our leadership development work shows plementing and doing (50 feet). Lastly, set Fontainebleau and Singapore.

February 2018 | TRENDS 59