Back in 2009, our friend Ventakash, one of the sharpest minds out there, wrote a HILARIOUS essay on the pyramid above, called “The Gervais Principle” which states, “an unorthodox school of management based on the axiom that organizations don’t suffer pathologies; they are intrinsically pathological constructs.“ It’s the world’s oldest paradox, what is good for getting one to the top of the hierarchical ladder is also what’s good for turning one into an empathy-free sociopath.
This is why so many leaders over time have been complete monsters, often with disastrous results.
But the opposite is also true. Leaders need to be nice, but they can’t be *too* nice. Sometimes tough decisions need to be made. As Benjamin Disraeli said, a good Prime Minister also has to be a good butcher.
It’s one of the reasons so few people make it to CEO… most of us can either be a monster or an angel, but not both. A good CEO has to be both at the same time, and that’s a REALLY rare quality.
“Culture” is having its moment, and it couldn’t come sooner. People are asking
“How do we maintain culture at distance?”, “What do we do about Diversity and Inclusion post-George Floyd?” and it continues on with concerns about layoffs, safety, politics, and health. There are answers. What we all need are relevant and sustainable strategies and tools to implement and grow our cultures.
We are looking to bring together CEOs and leaders of organizations that are focused on culture and engagement. If you are a senior leader interested in joining a new group we are organizing to share insights, practices, and leadership culture hacks, please email us here.
