Beware the Zombies part one
Dead Ideas That Walk Among Us Part 1
In the realm of leadership, certain ideas refuse to stay buried. Despite the progress we've made in understanding what it takes to lead effectively, some outdated notions continue to persist like zombies—long dead, yet still somehow walking among us. These "zombie leadership" concepts can often cause us to celebrate the wrong leaders and can limit our own leadership efficacy.
In my work developing and delivering The Inner Work of Leadership program at Pauseful, I have found that much of the inner work requires us to mindfully unearth our internal narratives about what leadership is and examine these stories in the bright light of day. Often, we find that many of these tales are in fact zombies - stinky dead things that are causing us harm.
Alex Haslam, Mats Alevson and Stephen Reicher in their paper, ‘Zombie Leadership, Dead ideas that still walk among us' have wisely spotted eight of these rotten ideas still stinking among us. We explore four of them here.
The Myth of the Lone Leader
One of the most pervasive myths is that leadership is all about the leader. This notion suggests that leadership is reserved for those in senior positions and that we understand leadership by looking at the leader alone.
However, research shows that leadership efficacy can only be understood through the lens of followership. I think that leadership can best be defined as intentional positive influence in service to a noble goal and this definition is one supported by extensive evidence. Positive influence necessitates trusting relationships and open collaboration. Organisational success, therefore, is a collective effort, requiring the input, collaboration, and support of a diverse team.
The best leaders understand that their role is to empower others, foster a shared vision, and create an environment where everyone can thrive. The best leaders build others up so that they are no longer required.
2. The Myth of the born leader
Another zombie idea is the belief that there are specific qualities that all leaders just have. This myth perpetuates the notion that leaders are born, not made, and that certain individuals possess an innate set of traits that predestine them for leadership.
However, studies have shown that leadership influence is about perception and impact. Leaders are only seen to be great leaders if they are perceived as such by their followers. And this again requires the building of trust.
The truth is effective leaders come in all shapes and sizes and demonstrate a broad range of qualities. Leaders often cultivate their abilities through experience, learning, and self-reflection.
3. The Myth of the cookie cutter
The idea that there are specific things that all leaders do is another undead concept that needs to be laid to rest. While there are certainly common practices among successful leaders, the notion that there is a universal formula for leadership is flawed. Context and relationships matter, and what works for one leader in one situation may not work for another.
Rather, effective leadership requires adaptability, situational awareness, and the ability to tailor one's approach to the unique needs of their team and organization.
4. The Myth of the Obvious Leader
Finally, the belief that we all know great leaders when we see them is another zombie idea that can lead us astray. This myth assumes that leaders are immediately recognizable and that true leaders will always stand out in a crowd. However, leadership is often nuanced and may manifest in subtle ways. Great leaders may not always be the most vocal or the most visible, but they consistently create positive impact through their actions, decisions, and relationships.
It's important to look beyond superficial traits and recognize the diverse ways in which leadership can be expressed.
Embracing the Future of Leadership
As we move forward, it's crucial to embrace a more nuanced and evidence-based understanding of leadership. By debunking these zombie myths, we can create a wiser, more inclusive and effective leadership culture. True leadership is about reclaiming our focus, enhancing our awareness, stepping into authenticity and owning our impact.
One thing that we can do is to notice and challenge our own narratives about leadership. We can tune into the mental chatter about ourselves and others in the workplace. By unearthing and challenging our own inner zombie ideas we can bury them forever and take back the power to lead with excellence.
How Pauseful can help you
In a business world that is speeding up, Pauseful helps you slow down
We achieve this in two distinct ways:
The inner work of leadership. Pauseful guides you through the path to enhance your leadership skills. We boost workplace productivity and performance by sharpening leader focus, emotional intelligence, decision-making, and presence.
Mindful strategy. Pauseful employs a unique, thoughtful approach to strategy. We enhance strategic performance by increasing clarity, purpose, agility, and direction.
References
This article is strongly inspired by this paper Haslam, S.A., Alvesson, M. and Reicher, S.D., 2024. Zombie leadership: Dead ideas that still walk among us. The Leadership Quarterly, p.101770. Much gratitude goes the authors for recognising these zombies in our midst.
Other references
Goleman, D. (2013). Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence. HarperBusiness.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Context: Past, Present, and Future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144-156.
Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L., & Hayes, T. L. (2002). Business-unit-level relationship between employee satisfaction, employee engagement, and business outcomes: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(2), 268-279.
Mayer, R. C., Davis, J. H., & Schoorman, F. D. (1995). An integrative model of organizational trust. Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 709-734.