This article makes the assertion that many leaders look for successors who have many similar qualities and that the best opportunity for strategic growth for your organisation is for leaders to stop hiring in their own image.
Have Data Driven Performance Measures
Objective, rigorous, quantitative metrics that ensures the future leaders being recognised based on actual performance rather than politics. It also filters down the list of candidates based on common criteria of what they actually contribute to the organisation and their potential to solve future challenges the company may face.
Having the Courage to Change
You can only evolve if you are willing to move forward and there is no change without changing yourself. The evolution and innovation of any business is directly connected to its ability to continually renew and to grow. To improve company culture, to re-invent and refresh its leadership. It is very tough to change when you have a winning formula but often that very change is what is required to succeed into the future.
“You don’t have real diversity when people look different but think alike.”
Peter Thiel, co-founder PayPal
Embrace Cognitive Diversity
Diversity of thought is the catalyst of innovation, progress and growth, so if you increase the diversity of how people think, feel and behave you are likely to increase the range of opinions, the creativity, and the strategic growth. It is always easier to manage people who think alike, we all like people who think like us. But according to Winston Churchill “if two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary“.
Key Takeaways
- Leaders should stop hiring in their own image – there is nothing good about narcissism.
- Start with clear goals and quantitive metrics to assess performance of leaders, to ensure that they are not being pushed forward for political or other reasons.
- Have courage to change from what has been successful in the past.
- Embrace cognitive diversity to innovate and grow.
Synopsis of an article from Forbes Should Leaders Stop Hiring in Their Own Image by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic Published 8th September 2020 https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomaspremuzic/2020/09/08/should-leaders-stop-hiring-in-their-own-image/