Stop looking for silver bullets…they don’t exist!

It troubles me (maybe it shouldn’t) that when organisations do decide to invest in the development of their leaders, that the initiative can often be seen as the intervention that will change everything. The brief may not overtly state “silver bullet required” but it is often implicit within the narrative & conversations that surround it.

The metaphor is unhelpful on so many levels because it implies harm (never a good starting point when investing in your people) & it assumes that a simple, almost magical solution will appear & solve everything.

Now I need to be careful here (some of you may be screaming already) because this is part of what I now do for a living & the cynics amongst us might suggest that willingly getting involved in this co-ordinated collusion helps pay the bills?

Well, no actually…it may win business in the short term but is not a recommended strategy for those planning to be in this space in 5-10 years’ time. Trust has been known on more than one occasion to enter on foot & leave on horseback & when the initiative fails to deliver not only can it damage the organisation you are working with internally, but the credibility for you & those like you externally.

It will not surprise you to know that I spend a reasonable amount of time when starting to work with an organisation, soaking up some angst & scepticism of senior leaders who were once burned by the previous version of me who said they would load the gun but failed to provide the silver bullet.

It is incumbent on me & people like me to understand the wider & longer-term organisational plan on culture or capability for example, & to challenge the working assumptions if they seem one dimensional or flimsy. A little helpful conflict at this stage can really change the outcomes for the those being invested in. It will also ensure that the organisation that they land back in post development, is ready for the change they want to create & deliver.

So, if you are wanting to understand how you can do less with less, start building an organisation where the leaders become better listeners, more empowering, building capability & connection then let’s talk. If you are looking for silver bullets I suggest you Google a Werewolf or Vampire hunter…I am told they have plenty to spare.

If you want to learn more about how to ‘burst the bubble of the organisational quick fix’ then Steve Hearsum‘s ‘No Silver Bullet’ is a great read on the topic. Sharp, insightful & amusing in equal measure.

#strongerhumans #nosilverbullets #leadershipdevelopment