Beware the Iconic Leader

Regardless of your point of view, the Seattle Times recent article on Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church points out another example of the pitfalls of iconic leadership.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024534198_marshillprofilexml.html

Not only religious organizations, but non-profits, for-profits, educational institutions and governments have been built upon iconic leaders.  You can recognize the iconic leader because the leader's name is nearly synonymous, or even eclipses, the name of the host organization.   Herein lies the danger,  the brand and reputation of the leader is greater than the sum of the parts of the organization.  

Often the iconic leader is someone who created the very foundation of the organization.    They have invested their  soul into building something that may be very good.  In the process, however, the iconic leader's reputation, and role, often becomes more important than anyone or anything in the organization.

• Iconic leaders often have troubles letting go.    They refuse to delegate.
• Iconic leaders often are not transparent.   Whether for good cause or not, they see no need to share vital information with others.
• Iconic leaders may say, in a pinch, that they were wrong. . .but they seldom believe it.
• Iconic leaders are autocratic. . . .long live the king. . .or queen.

The above characteristics often doom the iconic leader to end their relationship with their organization in a less than glorious fashion.     The autocratic leadership so weakens the organization, or people get so fed up, that ultimately it implodes.

Or,  when the iconic leader finally retires, or goes to another company. . .or gets run over by a bus when they step off a curb - the organization suffers because no other leadership has been cultivated.

Iconic leaders can be great brand builders. . . but to be truly strong, organizations cannot rely, or be subjected to, the rule of one.    It always has been, and will be, the strength of many that ultimately allows an organization to be strong and thrive.

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My book, "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available for e-readers on Amazon Kindle.