Overcome Concrete Snow Leaders
Thankfully, Nothing Lasts Forever!
CONCRETE 101
Cement, mixed with the right ratio of water and sand/aggregate, is step one in the creation of concrete. If the mix is properly placed, given sufficient time to cure when weather conditions are cooperative, the result is a firm, strong, long-lasting building material.
CONCRETE SNOW
This winter, particularly in the south, we experienced “concrete snow." Snowfall (4+ inches) was followed by substantial sleet & freezing rain, and temperatures remained below freezing for two weeks.
Ice is a beautiful thing for Olympic skaters and sculptures at fancy parties. Neighborhood roads remain closed for over a week, as there are few plows available to face this unusual challenge.
Add a fear of freezing pipes, electric power outages, what to do with trash piling up, no access to USPS or Amazon Prime, and the need to get other physical therapy providers into the house, and the impact of Concrete Snow comes into full view.
CONCRETE SNOW LEADERSHIP
The constancy of firm leadership in times of crisis can be comforting. Especially if the leader “has been there, done that." Tell us what to do, and it will get done as you say. Works for short spurts of time. Then it doesn’t.
In our world where only change seems to be the constant, rigid leaders will drive the firm off the cliff. It is done in the name of “it’s what we have always done, it worked in the past, and it’s what we will be doing as long as I’m in charge."
HOW TO MELT AWAY CONCRETE LEADERSHIP
In a public company, a NYSE REIT for example, aversion to change may be observed in retaining an all-white male board of directors. The CEO/CFO repeatedly missing the “first call” will result in activists and public institutions quietly pressing for change and then moving to open demands in the media.
In a private company, changes in leadership happen behind closed doors. When the equity owners are not engaged in operations, they may simply replace the CEO with someone able to effectively lead.
When the owners remain active in the company — or are “hands-on" meddling board members — it becomes tricky. While they can recognize the flaws in others, some board members can fail to recognize the dirt in their own eyes.
Look for the company to eventually be sold, as no one they ever hire will be as good as they remember themselves once being.
BOTTOM LINE
Concrete can be a great material when the use is rational and the placement is well done.
Concrete Snow can be as strong as concrete, when weather conditions remain very cold.
Concrete-like leadership, especially in a time of constant change, will result in missing out on opportunities to grow the firm.
Facing the limitations of leadership, CEO and board of directors, can be painful (and may need to be made public to implement), is the only path to an abundant future.
