The world does not need leaders with celebrity status
Leaders with celebrity status used to be worshiped like Gods in the past because people believed that these exceptionally talented individuals would bring the changes required for their businesses – changes which would turn their failing companies around.
But most of the time, these leaders failed to deliver. The great things which were expected from them, did not come. The companies continued to fall and perish into nothingness.
Sadly, what happened in the past is still happening in our world now. The case with the 3 CEOs who travel like celebrities in private jets shows how much the world dislikes such type of selfish leaders. To these leaders, their ego is much larger and much more important than the businesses they are trying to save.
Well, we do have such incidents happening in our home country too. Ever heard of bosses saying that the company needs to cut costs and sometimes to the extend of laying off people or cutting salary? The same bosses who said these things will turn around and instruct their secretaries to order a business-class flight ticket to business destinations. And some still hire company drivers to bring them around rather than driving by themselves. Even Warren Buffett who admits his driving sux, drives for himself!
My advice to such leaders – put down your ego for now because your business needs you, not your ego. Fix the problems, throw away your selfish attitude and your celebrity lifestyle, be humble and be helpful. Most importantly, lead by example. Don’t tell people to do A when you are not willing to do it yourselves.
But if you don’t want to change, then by all means, continue with that celebrity-styled habit of yours because you will not enjoy it much longer.
Unless, there are some companies who are stupid enough to hire you into their companies – you, who has ridiculously high maintenance cost and near zero achievements. Good luck.
Here’s a question that someone once asked me – do these celebrity managers make themselves or do we make them. Example: when they go out in industry to represent us against high-powered competitors, do we want them to appear ordinary or formidable.
Sometimes I think we (shareholders) are equally responsible for “dressing up” our biz leaders by showering them with perks, to make them look bigger than they really are. The trouble is once you give it to them, its very hard to take back. They won’t volunteer to give it up either.
As for the US automakers, their main shareholders don’t seem bothered about the behavior of their CEOs. That’s partly why people are talking about letting them go bankrupt. Bankrupt doesn’t mean close shop. It means filing for protection while the company is restructured to operate again, hopefully in leaner and better shape. It could mean the removal of bad management and change of ownership (maybe Toyota or Dongfeng Motor Corp will take over?)
Damien Tan
24 Nov 08 at 4:04 pm
@ Damien
I think a leader with a celebrity status tends to give people HOPE that he will be successful and is capable of turning things around? Just imagine your company hired a quiet guy to be your CEO, whereas your competitor hired a larger-than-life guy to be the new CEO. Naturally, the employees of your company will start saying “Who is he?” or “Can he actually do his job?” and things like that. Confidence will be low among the employees due to this apparently “normal” person taking over.
Maybe that’s why those celebrity leaders are, well, treated like celebrities and are highly sought after in the industry even though they don’t really do well.
Such leaders also give confidence to the shareholders
But past records have shown that you don’t need to be larger-than-life in order to be a successful leader.
Hmmm, it’ll be interesting if Jap or China carmakers take over the US carmakers.
Alvin Lim
24 Nov 08 at 5:16 pm