The Leader who Chose the Wrong Profession

By Jorj Helou, CRHA, PCC

Somewhere in our organizations, this type of leader still exists:

🗣 Words, Always Words...

A master of monologues, he delivers speech after speech, striving to convince his team to trust him. Yet, he leaves behind a trail of bitterness and frustration. His collaborators leave the meeting hearing Dalida's song on repeat: "Words, words, and more words."

🌠 Inspiring in Meetings, Disappointing in Action

He carefully crafts his image, fine-tuning meticulously prepared presentations, hoping to dazzle. But soon, promises vanish, promised resources evaporate, announced decisions are retracted, and follow-ups turn into missed appointments. Each ambitious project fades into forgotten slides, until the next brainstorming session.

🦎 The Chameleon of Trends

With every new leadership trend, he champions strategies that are as powerful as they are fleeting, hoping to impress. Today, it's hybrid work; tomorrow, it's 100% in-person, all depending on the latest podcast he's listened to. Always ready to ride the trends, but his compass is broken, and his team ends up losing its way.

🧍 He has the Posture, but...

He preaches transparency but sidesteps every delicate subject. He talks about integrity but avoids shedding light on the gray areas. He advocates for light without ever turning it on, leaving his team confused in the dark.

⚖️ Authority without Alignment

He says one thing, does the opposite, and smiles as if no one notices. He revels in the authority his title provides him while the gap between him and his team grows into a chasm.

 


 

In the end, he remains an actor who shines only for himself. His team, however, already knows the conclusion of the play: fine words mean nothing without the credibility to back them up. As long as this illusion persists, no one will stay to applaud him.

 

Credibility is not a role; it is a reality built, action by action.

Like Mr. Jack Welch said:

"Building self-confidence in others is a huge part of a leader's job.".

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