Don’t be a complacent leader

He stood there talking with his best friend, Jenny. They weren’t bothering anyone, they were simply standing chatting in the shade of a tree on the dirt road on the way home from school. Then the bullies arrived. They mocked him and threw things at him, all because he wore braces on his legs.

He had weak legs as a young boy, so the doctors fitted him with metal braces to help his legs grow true.

They were cumbersome and prohibited him from moving at anything but a slow, awkward, methodical gait. As the bullies moved in for the kill like a pack of wolves, Jenny turned Forrest around, gave him a shove forward and yelled: Run Forrest run. Forrest obeyed. He took off as fast as his feeble legs could carry him. Something happened as he set himself to move forward.

Something transformed in him as he forcefully chose to move in spite of his limitations.

His limitations became less limiting.

In fact, eventually his legs braces blew off and he shot forward running at a pace he had never dreamed possible.

He became a running fool as the townsfolk called him, He ran everywhere. He couldn’t be stopped. This scene from the movie Forrest Gump is an interesting picture of what many leaders struggle with: complacency.

Complacency is defined as a feeling of pleasure or security, while unaware of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation or condition.

I define it as an attitude of: I don’t really care to change. I’m fine.”

It’s an unwillingness to move forward.

Complacency is a little bit like Forrest Gump’s leg braces, inhibiting you from moving forward out of your current condition into one of greater freedom and influence.

I call complacent leaders caretakers.

Caretakers don’t take risks, they simply take care of the issues at hand.

They are committed to the status quo and their own comfort and convenience.

There only three kinds of leaders: risk takers, caretakers and undertakers. Undertakers These guys are simply tending to the walking dead.

The organization led by an undertaker is dead.

There is no life, no vibrancy, no heart, no vision and no future. Caretakers These leaders eventually become undertakers if they do not choose to take risks, if they do not recognize and then run out of their complacency.

Organizations led by caretakers slide into a slow death. Risk Takers They lead their organizations forward with passion, heart and vision.

They live and lead outside their comfort zone.

They pivot and adapt to changing market conditions.

They are disrupters, not content to be disrupted by their competitors. They are not afraid of failure. They reach beyond their grasp. Learn Caretakers need to learn a lesson from Forrest Gump and take a step forward.

You can choose to care enough to take a step, then another and another and eventually run.

Soon, you’ll realize you’re achieving things you never thought possible. Think of Forrest Gump. Think of a hobbling little boy sick and tired of being bullied, who is willing to put one foot in front of the other with a bold determination motivated by an intense desire to move to a different place and move away from that which is oppressing him.

Be like Forrest and take a step forward, no matter how awkward it may feel. Step into your fear. Take a risk. As you move forward, complacency will begin to break off you like Forrest’s leg braces.

You will shift from being a caretaker to a risk taker.

Run Forrest run!

Kelowna-based David MacLean helps leaders through The Executive Committee Canada and his business, Wholehearted Leaders. Reach him at dmaclean@tech-canada.com.