It’s hard not to notice—even if you’ve been living under a rock for the last year or so—that we’re in the middle of a campaign to elect the next president of the United States or re-elect Donald Trump for another four years in the White House. [related]
While there’s certainly been plenty of criticism of Trump’s demeanor and approach to his work as president since his still-surprising election almost four years ago, some AV business leaders may employ many of the same traits Trump and his predecessors in the Oval Office have used to get things done.
The question you need to ask yourself is, “What kind of leader do I want to be and how do I get there?” While you may think you’re delivering a message to those who work for and with you in a certain way, if they take it in another way, it’s on you as a leader to recalibrate your approach the next time around.
AV Business or Political Gridlock
The mud-slinging in Washington, D.C., probably seems like the furthest thing from what you’re doing in your company, but if your goal in every meeting or correspondence with your employees is to be right or to make sure things are done your way, you’re not as far away from the Senate as you thought.
Think of how often “the next great idea” gets held up by a particular department—or maybe a particular employee. There are no elections in business—so it’s on you as a leader to decide whether it’s time to impeach…uh, fire that employee who’s gumming up the works with negativity and filibustering.
Are you all about creating an equal playing field for everyone in the company—including yourself? Be careful what you wish for if you start down that road, because while it might mean more opportunities and empowerment for those who don’t have it, you might find yourself neutered or marginalized.
AV business leaders certainly don’t all fit into one mold. That would be impossible with companies ranging from more than $1 billion in annual revenues to others that literally go project to project and check to check.
As we move further through the presidential election process, think of whose values and approach to leadership you value—and look within yourself to see if you model those same values with your employees or if you just wish you did.
