Leaders, Stop Trying to be Heroes

Leaders, Stop Trying to be Heroes

Hortense le Gentil | Harvard Business Review

For decades, the traditional view was that to be successful, business leaders had to be infallible, unflappable, in control, and fearless. These leaders appeared to be born hero leaders, naturally endowed with supreme intelligence, coming up with brilliant ideas and directives from the mountaintop that lower echelons were then expected to execute. The pandemic has highlighted what was already becoming clear before the emergence of the virus: that hero leaders are no longer what companies need. The most effective leadership today — at all levels — isn’t about technical expertise and having all the answers. Besides articulating a compelling vision, it’s about being human, showing vulnerability, connecting with people, and being able to unleash their potential. Seemingly fearless hero leaders are facing one sizable obstacle: their own fear. The article outlines 3 steps leaders can take to enhance their leadership mindset.

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Gentil, H (2021) Leaders, stop trying to be heroes. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/10/leaders-stop-trying-to-be-heroes