Have you the courage to burst your own myth?

We all perpetuate myths – about events in our past, about people we know, about ourselves. It’s a natural human trait.Leaders aren’t exempt this trait. Think of leaders in the news over the last six months – Steve Jobs, Tiger Woods, President Obama, Toyota – to name but a few…and think of the myths perpetuated about them (and sometimes by them). Brilliance. Discipline. Focus. Execution. Quality.

Then think of what has happened to their status as leaders as a result of allowing – often, encouraging – those myths.

I’m not being judgmental here, and I’m not suggesting that myth-making is necessarily bad, or wrong. I am saying that mindless myth-making, or heedless myth-making, always has consequences, and those consequences are almost always bad.

What myths do you allow about yourself as a leader? Which do you encourage, or at least condone?

What would happen if you stopped? What would happen if you actively, gracefully dismantled that myth?

Share0

Tweet0

Share0

About the Author

Les McKeown is the Founder and CEO of Predictable Success.

Les is the author of "Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization On the Growth Track - and Keeping It There". "The Synergist: How to Lead Your Team to Predictable Success", "Do Lead: Share Your Vision. Inspire Others. Achieve the Impossible" and most recently "Do Scale: A Roadmap to Building a Remarkable Company".