Leadership Insertion – A Need to Be Seen

I was talking with an executive the other day and we got into a discussion about the crises of the stock market, crypto, the war in Ukraine, and the real estate industry. One of the comments he made was that leaders are inserting themselves into more meetings to protect their turf and to ensure their name doesn’t magically appear on the workforce reduction list.

There are some leaders who are so worried about their jobs that they launch an “I need to save my job” campaign and insert themselves into meetings to gain visibility. They are convinced that if the right people see them virtually or in person, then their neck will be saved. Suddenly, they are asking their team members to do a ton of reports to justify their existence. Furthermore, they are creating projects to demonstrate that their area is super busy. You know the drill…everyone is drinking water out of fire hoses.

And, of course, inquiring minds want to know “where’s the brilliance?” Here’s the deal – when you are competent, confident, connected, and committed, you don’t have to insert yourself. Why? Because you are like a cheetah that is flexible and nimble in the midst of change. Insertion only becomes necessary in a culture where political gamesmanship is the order of the day. Nevertheless, remember that according to the book of wisdom, the race is not given to the swift or to the strong but to the one who endures until the end.