Doug Cartland's Four-Minute Leadership Advisory
Doug Cartland, Inc.
05/21/2013

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A couple of weeks ago, I was in beautiful Palm Desert, California making a presentation to a room of leaders at the MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association) Conference.

 

I've had this privilege before, and always have a fantastic time with these terrific people.

 

Anyway...

 

My son was with me, and upon arrival we deplaned and headed for a taxi. We loaded up...our taxi was second in line.

 

The problem was the taxi that was first in line.

 

"Oh my god..." exclaimed our taxi driver immediately upon plopping herself behind the wheel. Speaking of the first-in-line driver, she said, "He is soooo slow."

 

"He's always slow?" I chimed in, ever the conversationalist.

 

"Yes! Always!" she exclaimed.

 

Sure enough, he took his time loading up, took his time seating his passenger and took his time climbing into his own seat. We were bumper to bumper and could go nowhere. And our driver was on a mission.

 

"It drives me crazy," she continued. I was surprised by how outrageously candid she was, but soon found that this is the norm for her...and then some.

 

"The problem is he's like eighty-five years old and he doesn't care anymore...so he makes life miserable for everyone else."

 

At that my ears stood at attention. The topic I was speaking on at the conference was "How Seasoned Leaders Keep their Edge." Playing out before me was a perfect metaphor for what I would be presenting.

 

There are few things worse in business than someone who has quit without fully quitting; leaders who have been around for a while who stop leading because they think they are entitled. They retire before they retire. They are half-committed. They've lost the edge.

 

They are the eight-five year old taxi drivers who stop up the works because they don't care anymore.

 

Either they have become tired, burned out, egotistical, jaded, bored or all of the above. They quit in mind before they quit in body. They no longer concern themselves with being an example. They no longer concern themselves with doing the very best for their people and the business as a whole.

 

When I run into these types of leaders, I beg them to do one thing: "Please retire," I say to them.

 

They are like the cork in the bottle. So many behind them are wanting to grow, move forward and these leaders are hindering their progress, doing the organization they work for and its people a huge disservice.

 

As long as we have a leadership position, we have a responsibility to lead as well as we can and to always be growing and getting better...no matter how long we've been doing it.

 

Anything less is irresponsible, counterproductive and demeaning to the people we lead. Besides, if you are the person I'm describing, you're most likely miserable. Being half-committed to any task is an exercise in self-torture. Really. Get in or get out.

 

Oh, one more thing: If you are that leader, don't get into a taxi with a certain taxi driver in Palm Desert, California. I'm warning you...she will tell you exactly what she thinks...and you may not like it.

 

*There will not be a newsletter next week because of the holiday. See you in two weeks! Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.

I'd love to hear from you. Reply to this email and let me know your thoughts. 

 

Doug

 

Doug Cartland, President
Doug Cartland, Inc.

 

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