One oft repeated phrase in the Army is "complacency kills". The idea refers more to the tactical aspect of the Army. Soldiers assume key events; they are secure, their weapon works, they are safe. The fact is when a soldier becomes complacent in the field they make mistakes that ultimately prove fatal to themselves, others or both. Complacency in leadership is also fatal. The fatality is innovation, vision and communication.
Innovation requires constant commitment. One can never assume that their inbuilt processes bring new, better ways to the table. Rather we build new boxes, while the box may appear radically different than anyone else's boxes what was once innovative becomes eccentric. Leaders are chaotic; they drive change in organizations. They must be the innovators and drive the change within their organizations. Managers are sources of stability. If leaders become complacent, they become managers. Innovation is how organizations remain relevant.
Vision is the reason leaders innovate. While the vision for an organization should remain consistent leaders must constantly revisit their vision. Leadership is a process because the world is not constant. Leaders must constantly assess the relevance of their vision against the backdrop of their world.
Communication is the media, the method and too often the madness. Leaders must be able to create innovation, share vision with others. Communication is how the process happens, the means by which abstract becomes concrete. When communication works ideas are shared both the leader and the led are transformed and vision becomes reality. Complacency kills communications. When we assume others can "finish our sentences" because of long acquaintance gaps occur. Shared vision is lost and we now have two different ideas and wasted effort.
Leaders must never become complacent. You must reinvigorate yourself and your organization. Innovation, vision and communication must never be assumed. Complacency kills.
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