Leadership Arrogance II: Is It Destroying Your Brand?
Leadership Arrogance can destroy your brand. Your brand is your promise! It is what people expect when they deal with you, your organization, or your people. Is Leadership Arrogance destroying your brand?
Recently a situation developed with an attorney who felt that it was okay to rack up $1400 in legal fees on a $300 bill within a 4 month period by sending notices to an address where I hadn’t resided for a period of 2.5 years. The ridiculous thing is that this is my Homeowners Association so it is pretty easy to find me. The issue isn’t the fees … ultimately I am responsible … the issue is this man’s unwillingness to discuss the situation because Jeff C. is a “partner” and he doesn’t have those conversations. We refer to this as Leadership Arrogance.
After 2 calls requesting a conversation with Jeff C. I was told by the receptionist that if I didn’t like their policy it was basically my problem. She went on to tell me I could leave a voicemail message for the attorney (who has a year of experience out’ve law school) because even though Jeff C. signed the documents, the other attorney did the work. By the way … the other attorney never returned my call either.
When Leadership Arrogance resides at the top of the organization it will always find it’s way to the bottom. Leadership Arrogance is a cultural issue. Why? Because a culture is determined by the beliefs and behaviors of a specific group of people. The arrogance of Jeff C. permeated it’s way through the interns and down to the receptionist because over time has woven itself into the very fabric of their organization. It is now their brand.
Is Leadership Arrogance Destroying Your Brand? 5 Must Ask Questions.
- Are you tolerating unacceptable behaviors in any of your leaders because you don’t want to address the issue? (We call this sweeping it under the carpet, hiding beneath the covers, or avoidance … take your pick) This could help!
- Have you had conversations with these leaders in the past and yet they refuse to change their behaviors? (Actions speak louder than words … always have always will. Look to the actions not the pile of unkept commitments)
- Do you believe Leadership Arrogance is a sign of power or a sign of weakness? Actually it is about force and control … neither one works long term and it will eventually implode the internal culture of your organization and eventually your business. This doesn’t happen immediately … it happens eventually.
- Are you tired of cleaning up the dead bodies this leader is leaving around the office? Nothing complicated here … two choices … “yes” or “no.”
- When will you take the action needed to stop the degradation of your brand? Remember your brand is your promise … is this what you promise to deliver to your employee’s, your suppliers, and your customers.
Sometimes we fail to see the hidden damage that misaligned behaviors, like Leadership Arrogance, has on others. We make excuses, rationalize in our minds, tolerate, or just plain ignore the impact.
Don’t let someone else’s behaviors impact your company brand. The internet and social media has skyrocketed the speed at which your brand can deteriorate.
More importantly … don’t let your lack of willingness to take action negatively impact your personal leadership brand. Failure to act will cause your people to question your leadership … And this is one reason good employee’s leave!
Maybe this would be a good time to review Action #5?
