We've all heard the saying, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall". This is true for giants, beanstalks, and exaggerated self images. In reference to the latter, what makes us fall? What was it about Enron's Kenneth Lay, Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski, WorldCom's Bernard Ebbers, and other top execs that precipitated their falls? I'll tell you in one word... Pride.
Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (NIV).
Now, before you go and think this is a religious rant on pride, let me assure you there are some very powerful messages about pride in the Bible that should not be ignored. A close look at any downfall, whether a nation, an empire, or a CEO will present pride and arrogance as key factors that led to their demise.
To narrow my point on pride and its destructive nature I will focus primarily on the corporate world. Most large and successful companies have one CEO. There are a few examples of co-CEOs like in the merger between Citibank and Travelers Group where John Reed (Citibank) and Sanford Weill (Travelers) briefly co-shared command of the behemoth Citigroup. I emphasize briefly, because Weill eventually took the seat at the top by outmaneuvering Reed. But, typically one person makes it to the top at a time. The struggles to reach the top are worthy of a separate discussion, and there are countless captivating examples of the epic paths traveled to reach the top floor corner office. Whether this opportunity falls in the laps of deserving execs, or the fight to claim the throne was a hard-fought endeavor spanning years of possitioning and hard work, the rewards for the top seat are usually plentiful.
One would think that along the way to corporate superstardom that a person's flaws would reveal themselves. It takes staunch focus and strong willed determination to achieve such lofty goals. Focus keeps us moving forward, growing, and sharpening our skills. Once the race is won, however, lack of focus in the elements that got you to the finish line may fade or change. What does one do with power and influence with a lack of focus? Fall, and fall hard.
Roderick Kramer penned a great article in the Harvard Business Review titled The Harder They Fall. In this article Kramer identifies the intelligence, resourcefulness and drive to go the distance, yet just when they (CEOs) appear to have it all, these A-listers demonstrate uncharacteristic lapses in professional judgement or personal conduct (Kramer, 2009). Something changed in these people. They lost their moral bearing, got complacent, or just forgot who they were and what they stood for. Fame and fortune can be a double edged sword, and pride is the devil's favorite tool.
Imagine a potential CEO candidate on his/her way up. They have to keep their moral fibers tightly wound up and close to them. There are a lot of competitors jockeying for the same opportunities who will expose any loose thread they can find to gain an advantage, but the winner leaves no loose ends to grab. Once the race is won, the guard comes down a little here and there, the focus shifts to other obstacles, and little threads are exposed to be pulled. Pretty soon the moral fibers are unravelling like a ball of yarn. Without the strong moral conviction that got the exec to the top pride sets in and exposes the soft underbelly of our frail nature. We become susceptible to immoral behavior and decisions. We think we are invincible, untouchable, and powerful... we become full of pride.
Another potential reason top execs falls is who they surround themselves with. It is a small and privileged group at the top. One bad apple can spoil the bunch, and pridefull people attract each other. Power is a strong anesthetic to reality. Without a strong supporting cast of morally and ethically charged people any leader can be tripped up.
Kramer suggests a few principles that can help a CEO have (and keep) everything they worked for:
Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (NIV).
Now, before you go and think this is a religious rant on pride, let me assure you there are some very powerful messages about pride in the Bible that should not be ignored. A close look at any downfall, whether a nation, an empire, or a CEO will present pride and arrogance as key factors that led to their demise.
To narrow my point on pride and its destructive nature I will focus primarily on the corporate world. Most large and successful companies have one CEO. There are a few examples of co-CEOs like in the merger between Citibank and Travelers Group where John Reed (Citibank) and Sanford Weill (Travelers) briefly co-shared command of the behemoth Citigroup. I emphasize briefly, because Weill eventually took the seat at the top by outmaneuvering Reed. But, typically one person makes it to the top at a time. The struggles to reach the top are worthy of a separate discussion, and there are countless captivating examples of the epic paths traveled to reach the top floor corner office. Whether this opportunity falls in the laps of deserving execs, or the fight to claim the throne was a hard-fought endeavor spanning years of possitioning and hard work, the rewards for the top seat are usually plentiful.
One would think that along the way to corporate superstardom that a person's flaws would reveal themselves. It takes staunch focus and strong willed determination to achieve such lofty goals. Focus keeps us moving forward, growing, and sharpening our skills. Once the race is won, however, lack of focus in the elements that got you to the finish line may fade or change. What does one do with power and influence with a lack of focus? Fall, and fall hard.
Roderick Kramer penned a great article in the Harvard Business Review titled The Harder They Fall. In this article Kramer identifies the intelligence, resourcefulness and drive to go the distance, yet just when they (CEOs) appear to have it all, these A-listers demonstrate uncharacteristic lapses in professional judgement or personal conduct (Kramer, 2009). Something changed in these people. They lost their moral bearing, got complacent, or just forgot who they were and what they stood for. Fame and fortune can be a double edged sword, and pride is the devil's favorite tool.
Imagine a potential CEO candidate on his/her way up. They have to keep their moral fibers tightly wound up and close to them. There are a lot of competitors jockeying for the same opportunities who will expose any loose thread they can find to gain an advantage, but the winner leaves no loose ends to grab. Once the race is won, the guard comes down a little here and there, the focus shifts to other obstacles, and little threads are exposed to be pulled. Pretty soon the moral fibers are unravelling like a ball of yarn. Without the strong moral conviction that got the exec to the top pride sets in and exposes the soft underbelly of our frail nature. We become susceptible to immoral behavior and decisions. We think we are invincible, untouchable, and powerful... we become full of pride.
Another potential reason top execs falls is who they surround themselves with. It is a small and privileged group at the top. One bad apple can spoil the bunch, and pridefull people attract each other. Power is a strong anesthetic to reality. Without a strong supporting cast of morally and ethically charged people any leader can be tripped up.
Kramer suggests a few principles that can help a CEO have (and keep) everything they worked for:
- Keep your life simple. Distractions are just that... distracting.
- Hang your lantern on your foibles. Don't hide from your shortcomings. Own them, learn from them, and understand your weaknesses. After all... they are yours and yours alone.
- Float trial balloons. Always be on the look out for potential disasters. Test your people, processes, and procedures... and test them often.
- Sweat the small stuff. It's often the little things that can, and do trip us up.
- Reflect more, not less. Identify the successes and failures that got you where you are, and don't make the same mistakes over and over again.
The devil loves pride in people. It is a powerful force that can blind people to what is good and right. Pride leaves people open to attack, and pride always precedes the fall. Remember how you got to where you are in life, and don't lose focus on the important things you valued so dearly on the way up. The top seat comes with top-seat responsibility, and many people beneath you depend on your leadership. If you are one of the fortunate ones to take the helm of a large and successful corporation, don't let your pride set you up for a fall. Continue to work on yourself and make others around you better. Don't let go of your moral and ethical foundations. In fact, grip a little harder to what you believe in. Success does not define a person, the person defines the success. And once the race is won, enjoy the fruits of your labor briefly... a new race is always waiting to be ran... and won.
JP
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