Leaders are about to turn the page from 2023 and to 2024. As they do so, I was reminded this past week of five questions they should be asking.
5 Questions Leaders Should Be Asking as They Finish 2023 and Move Into 2024
The following are five questions leaders should be asking as they finish 2023 and move into 2024:
Looking Back at 2023
For the past 55 years, Mattel’s Hot Wheels cars has been a staple of many children’s (and adult’s) lives. As noted in this USA Today article, these toys are still thriving. While many toys have fallen by the wayside or become obsolete, why do Hot Wheels continue to remain so popular?
In addition to their low price and quality, Bruce Pascal said, “You identify with the toy that came out in your childhood.”
So much so, many adults have become collectors. Anita Smith said, “Most collectors get into hobbies that remind them of the best times of their lives. And the best times of their lives was generally childhood, getting that toy on Christmas, or on a birthday.” She adds, “When I get a Redline in the mail now, it can look just as beautiful as when it was just off the assembly line 55 years ago. And I get that same feeling as was when I was a child at five or seven years old.”
Here’s the leadership lesson we learn from Hot Wheels cars: You cannot successfully move into the future without first touching the past.
Leaders, what did you learn, who did you meet, and what did you experience in 2023 which will help you be a better leader in 2024?
The First Responsibility of Leadership
Management expert and former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc Max Dupree famously said, “The first responsibility of leadership is to define reality.” His statement has been quoted often and generally accepted as fact. While it may be sacrilege, I must respectfully disagree with Mr. Dupree.
The first responsibility of leadership is not to define reality but to lead yourself well. If you can’t lead yourself first, you simply cannot lead others.
A couple of other thoughts on Dupree’s famous statement:
- I do believe defining reality is the second responsibility, so it is obviously vital to effective leadership.
- Defining reality is not a problem I see in many leaders. They are highly competent and can see what is working or not in their organization. The problem is not defining reality, it is denying it.
Leaders, are you willing to summon up the courage to not deny but rather deal with your 2023 realities in 2024?
Regressive Performance vs. Progressive Performance
One of the many realities leaders must deal with is the performance of those on their teams.
