Most Leadership Advice Is Productivity Hacks: Creators and CEOs Need Their Heart
“I’d Love to See That Happen”
Leadership advisers say being a leader (founder, CEO, artist, writer, speaker) is complex, lonely, and overwhelming.
They advise a leader to set a goal, focus, and do it.
They’re right… but not on point.
Or they juiced it up and pulled the purpose rabbit out of the hat: align your unique purpose, your goal with the planet, and money and success will come.
Having read Dwek’s outstanding book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, advisers sometimes dumb it down with Chat GTP word salad.
They are missing something simple.
Why?
Theirs is a mechanistic approach; they don’t believe there’s something more to them or those they advise. Dante might say they are too fixed on their fears and desires.
They focus on productivity and their version of mindset as the sword to overcome leadership problems. But focusing solely on performance alone cannot win without the warrior’s heart.
Leadership Is About Heart
We all have heart and can all be leaders.
But it is not the pumping one.
It springs from enthusiasm when going for your heart’s desire: ‘I’d Love to See That Happen.’
Saying Yes to Yourself
CEOs I mentor sometimes run out of funds even when they perform well. As a founder, I’ve experienced their worries about shareholder value, paying team members, and maintaining marketplace trust.
They cut unnecessary costs to extend their ‘runway’ — the number of months of operations they have of investors’ money banked.
And for a CEO or a creative facing negative cash flow, it is their Lord of the Rings moment. Do you remember J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring?
Frodo understood his task but said to Gandalf, ‘I wish it need not have happened in my time.’
At that moment, it seems logical to think, ‘I’m not capable, not experienced enough, resourced enough, or the value proposition is not bought into enough to succeed’.
Yet, some with failure at hand, alone and responsible, think, ‘I’d love to see that happen.’
Not surprisingly, although it may not be enough by itself, this commitment is what an investor, business partner, or early-stage clients will seek in a creative or a CEO.
Yes, it is crucial to prioritise performance, deadlines, and exceed the expectations of investors, publishers, clients, and team members.
But leading is beyond mere performance.
That’s why I say, “Investors invest in people,” not just financial and operational outcomes.
So, is part of leadership akin to looking doubt and destiny in the eye and saying ‘yes’ to yourself?
Leading as a Choice
You can be a CEO and not be leading.
Yet, Microsoft’s CEO made a leadership choice.
He shifted from Microsoft’s historical “know-it-all” culture to embrace a “learn-it-all” curiosity.
Freshly motivated employees and his other changes resulted in a revitalised business and upgraded share price.
Doubt and Unhelpful Beliefs Are Leadership Happening
I really get what it’s like to lead in difficult times when you can barely see the road ahead.
I’ve been there.
You don’t know if a cliff exists, but you must still appear at the front. Not just survive, hang on by your fingertips and hope. But to make a stand — get results.
And that is why, counter to logic, doubt, and unhelpful beliefs where magic happens, creating, performing, speaking from a stage, and asking for money for your business is a choice.
And when you decide to act, you’ll hear your scarcity mindset saying: our budget’s blown, funding is tough, my deadline is impossible, I don’t know how.
But still, you have the choice to commit to action even when the odds are against you, as is your internal dialogue.
My experience in the Arts: I was preparing to perform my poetry at an Arts festival.
A one-man show is usually accomplished when your craft is honed by years of experience on stage. In my case, I had little experience outside of being a CEO and tech-business founder.
I practiced (and practiced), but 10 days out, I wanted to cancel. I thought I didn’t want to bore people to death on a cold Tuesday evening with a flat and wooden performance.
Just in time, though, with coaching, I came through, and in the words of my foremost critic, ‘you nailed it.’
This shows me we can perform wildly well despite doubts and without feeling ready.
What I’ve observed in business: In a Ted talk, Mike Cannon-Brookes, co-founder and co-CEO of Atlassian, a listed 50 billion dollar company, discusses his success despite experiencing imposter syndrome — the idea that one is incapable.
Leadership Leaves a Trail of Breadcrumbs
— Say what you do and do what you say
— Don’t discount yourself
— Never (only never) whimper: ‘Why is it like this?’ ‘It’s not my fault’.
— Captain your crew: As the great African proverb says, do you want to go fast? You go alone. But if you want to go far, you go together.
It’s Ultimately About One Thing
Most leadership advice is a map — it is not the territory.
Remember, when your ‘Lord of the Rings moment’ arrives, your decision to act despite not feeling capable or ready is the one thing to get things done.
Check here now to help you get what you want done. It is quick and easy with the Checklist and Guide for Peak Performance.
Despite not feeling capable or ready, can you focus on taking action?
You’re welcome to use this free checklist and guide to help Peak-performance and action now.
I like to imagine a clan of people who take ownership of their natural creativity, their ‘thing’. Who use business as a tool and lead to positive global change.
