A634.3.5.RB - Shuck, Allison

After reading the article The Harder They Fall by Kramer (2003) I realized that the only way to completely understand the mistakes made by business leaders today is to outline the facts. More often than not, leaders demonstrate the “genius –to- folly syndrome – a swift and steady rise by a brilliant, hard-driving, politically adept individual followed by a surprising stint of miscalculation or recklessness” (Pg.60). So what does that mean exactly?  Personally, I think it means that those individuals who are driven by the pursuit of power change in a negative way once that power is obtained; then by no one’s fault but their own, they loses that power from making unethical decisions.

The winner-takes-all mentality is not all that it’s cracked up to be. It is a mindset for destruction! Many individuals believe that winning involves doing thing differently, breaking the rules. However, that is not the case! The winner-takes- all mindset can be very dangerous, especially when leaders develop contempt for those individuals who believe in following the rules. According to Kramer (2003), “the disdain for the rules puts risk-taking leaders on a very slippery slope”. Some leaders often get so distracted by winning that they continue to make the same rational decisions over and over again until they fall flat on their face.

Very few individuals who make it to the top know what it takes to get there and stay there. So how can you have it all? Well, for starters you should display a high degree of self awareness and develop a combination of psychological and behavioral habits to stay grounded. It is important to keep things simple; once you get to the top, continue doing what you have always done and don’t deviate. Own up to your mistakes and remember that you are human; you have flaws just like everyone else. Always dig deep to uncover the truth and prepare for the unexpected; you never know what life is going to through at you. Focus on the small stuff, look head and make predictions of what might go wrong. And, most of all, Become more mindful and reflective; understand what when wrong in the past will help you to build a more promising future.