Leadership is in crisis: trust in leaders is at an all-time low, with nearly 70% of HR professionals stating that they aren’t confident their organisation has the leadership they need for the challenges of today.*
Leaders frequently find themselves making decisions amid uncertainty and ambiguity. The outcomes of these decisions, or the repercussions of indecision, become evident quickly and are subjected to intense scrutiny. Each decision affects diverse groups differently, sometimes leading to the disappointment of previously inspired promises. According to Stephen Wyatt, author of Antidote to the Crisis of Leadership: Opportunity in Complexity, It’s therefore “completely understandable” that trust levels remain alarmingly low.
For someone to rise to a position of leadership in the first place, they need to attract the support of others from above and below. And it’s generally understood that those who rise fastest are those most adept at garnering widespread popularity.
To break free from this cycle, however, Wyatt advises aspiring and current leaders should first focus on self-reflection before attempting to influence others. They must thoroughly understand their own values, beliefs and mission and then have the courage to consistently align their actions with these principles, even if it means taking unpopular stances.
He says that others will be inspired if the mission and values resonate with them. “Consistency and commitment build trust,” Wyatt says. “The combination of inspiration, trust and competence attracts, retains and motivates followers – and the more followers, the greater the resultant popularity.”
To empower HR teams to select ‘unpopular’ candidates for C-suite leadership roles, it’s essential to emphasise the significance of inner reflection. By consistently embodying their own principles, leaders demonstrate the courage necessary to lead effectively, he concludes. This commitment to self-awareness and integrity enables them to set a higher standard of leadership, fostering trust and inspiring others to follow suit.
Find out how daring to be unpopular can make you a better leader in Stephen Wyatt’s book, Antidote to the Crisis of Leadership: Opportunity in Complexity.