 |
|
|
|||||
What if everything you believe about leadership is holding you back? A 2024 study by Gartner found that 69% of HR leaders dont think their leaders are fully equipped to lead. And according to Gallup, only 21% of employees strongly agree that their leaders actually inspire them to do their best. Thats a big gap between what leaders intend and what employees experience. The problem? A lot of leaders are following outdated advice. In the pursuit of excellence, they unknowingly buy into myths that hold them back, limit their teams, and stifle real innovation. Whether its the belief that speed always wins or that innovation is all about technology, these myths quietly shape decisions in ways that do more harm than good. Why do they stick around? Because they sound right. Theyre reinforced by business schools, success stories, and corporate culture. But when leaders operate on these assumptions, they risk making bad calls, missing opportunities, and ultimately weakening their impact. Great leadership isnt about sticking to the status quoits about questioning the norm, challenging assumptions, and seeing opportunities where others dont. The best leaders dont think differently just to be contrarian; they do it because real progress requires breaking free from conventional wisdom. Lets break down some of the most common leadership mythsand explore what actually works. Myth: Speed is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage Early in my career, I found myself caught in a speed trap. In a high-growth environment, I was constantly pressured to make quick decisions, launch initiatives fast, and drive results without hesitation. While this approach generated short-term wins, it also led to avoidable mistakes: hiring the wrong people, launching underdeveloped products, and missing deeper opportunities for sustainable growth. The real breakthrough came when I learned to balance urgency with thoughtfulness: taking the time to pause, gather diverse perspectives, and make decisions based on impact rather than just momentum. The belief that faster is always better dominates modern business thinking. Companies race to market, rush decisions, and glorify rapid execution. While speed has its place, it can also be a liability. Moving too fast often means overlooking critical insights, missing long-term opportunities, and making short-sighted decisions that sacrifice lasting value for immediate gains. Before defaulting to speed, ask yourself: Are we moving in the right direction? Are we building something that will stand the test of time? True competitive advantage doesnt come from speed but from strategic timing and intentional execution. Create space for reflection and thoughtful decision-making. Myth: Innovation is All About Technology From my own experience working with leaders across industries, I have seen that the most impactful innovations often stem from cultural and operational shifts rather than technological advancements. Its about how you think, not just what you build. To expand your definition of innovation, ask: How can we challenge conventional ways of doing business? What assumptions about our industry can we rethink? Encourage teams to innovate in ways that extend beyond digital tools through human-centered ideas, new business models, and cultural transformation. In an era dominated by AI, automation, and digital disruption, many leaders equate innovation with technological breakthroughs. While technology is a powerful enabler, it is not the only path to innovation. Some of the most groundbreaking shifts in business come from rethinking processes, reinventing customer experiences, and challenging outdated business models. Howard Schultz didnt innovate by inventing a new coffee machine: He redefined the coffee experience by bringing the concept of Italian espresso culture to American consumers through Starbucks. Similarly, Southwest Airlines didnt rely on cutting-edge technology to disrupt the airline industry: They revolutionized the business model by focusing on affordability, efficiency, and simplicity. Myth: The Best Leaders Have All the Answers Many leaders feel pressure to be the smartest person in the room, believing that credibility comes from having all the answers. But the most effective leaders are those who ask the best questions. Leadership isnt about possessing infinite knowledge; its about creating an environment where curiosity thrives, where diverse perspectives are valued, and where new ideas can emerge. In one of my leadership roles, I learned this the hard way. Early on, I felt compelled to prove my expertise at every turn. However, I quickly realized that by focusing on answers rather than questions, I was limiting the creative potential of my team. The shift came when I embraced a more inquiry-driven approach, inviting team members to challenge assumptions, propose alternative solutions, and collaborate in ways that unlocked new thinking. Instead of defaulting to solutions, start with questions. What are we missing? Who else should be part of this conversation? What assumptions are we making? Foster a culture of inquiry where team members feel empowered to challenge the status quo. The best leaders dont have all the answers; they create environments where the right questions lead to breakthrough solutions. The best leaders dont follow conventional wisdom unthinkingly. They challenge assumptions, rethink outdated beliefs, and carve new paths forward. They understand that real leadership is not about speed alone but about direction. Its not about technology alone but about vision. Its not about projecting invincibility but about embracing curiosity and growth. If youre a leader, the real question isnt: What myths have I accepted as truth? Its: What myths am I willing to challenge?
Category:
E-Commerce
Disney shareholders rejected an investor proposal to withdraw participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s corporate equity index, which rates workplaces on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. Disney is among the highest-profile employers to revise some of its diversity and inclusion practices as the Trump administration cracks down on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, practices across the federal government and in the private sector. Walt Disney was among 765 companies to receive a perfect score in its 2025 ranking, acknowledging its efforts to protect against workplace discrimination, to provide inclusive benefits and to offer training to achieve an inclusive culture. The shareholder proposal argues that Disney’s involvement in such divisive political issues has alienated segments of the audience, and damaged the company’s stock price. It urges investors to support the proposal, which it says provides an opportunity for Disney “to move back to neutral.” Disney urged investors to reject the proposal, saying its board already provides oversight of workforce equity matters. Only 1% of shareholders voted to support this measure, according to the preliminary tally announced Thursday. Other companies, including automaker Ford Motor, motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson and home improvement retailer Lowe’s, have ended their participation in the annual ranking of companies with LGBTQ-friendly work environments. A number of U.S. companies have retreated from DEI in recent months, as the Trump administration stepped up threats to companies and institutions that engage in those efforts. Even Disney changed its executive compensation criteria, replacing the objective of increasing diversity and inclusion with a factor called “talent strategy,” which evaluates how well leaders advance the company’s overall values. In other matters, Disney’s investors returned all 10 members to its board of directors and retained PricewaterhouseCoopers as the company’s independent public accountant. Investors voted for a non-binding resolution, supporting executive compensation. Shareholders rejected a proposal to publish a report, disclosing how its retirement plan investments protect the plan’s beneficiaries from investments in high-carbon companies. Investors voted against a proposal that called on Disney to issue a report, evaluating how it evaluates the risks related to discriminating against ad buyers or sellers based on their political or religious views. Disney’s investors also rejected a proposal that called on the company to adopt politically neutral ad policies. The proposal took issue with the company’s participation in the now-defunct Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which was formed to protect brands from harmful content. Elon Musk’s social media platform X later sued the nonprofit, which alleged companies had conspired to organize a massive boycott. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Category:
E-Commerce
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department, advancing a campaign promise to take apart an agency thats been a longtime target of conservatives. Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. Republicans said they will introduce legislation to achieve that, while Democrats have quickly lined up to oppose the idea. The order says the education secretary will, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.” It offers no detail on how that work will be carried out or where it will be targeted, though the White House said the agency will retain certain critical functions. Trump said his administration will close the department beyond its “core necessities,” preserving its responsibilities for Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and money for children with disabilities. The White House said earlier Thursday the department will continue to manage federal student loans, but the order appears to say the opposite. It says the Education Department doesn’t have the staff to oversee its $1.6 trillion loan portfolio and must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve America’s students. At a signing ceremony, Trump blamed the department for Americas lagging academic performance and said states will do a better job. Its doing us no good,” he said. Already, Trump’s Republican administration has been gutting the agency. Its workforce is being slashed in half, and there have been deep cuts to the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nations academic progress. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said she will remove red tape and empower states to decide whats best for their schools. But she promised to continue essential services and work with states and Congress “to ensure a lawful and orderly transition. Part of her job will be exploring which agencies can take on the Education Department’s various roles, she said. The Department of Justice already has a civil rights office, and I think that there is an opportunity to discuss with Attorney General Bondi about locating some of our civil rights work there, McMahon told reporters after the signing. The measure was celebrated by groups that have long called for an end to the department. “For decades, it has funneled billions of taxpayer dollars into a failing system one that prioritizes leftist indoctrination over academic excellence, all while student achievement stagnates and America falls further behind,” said Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation. Advocates for public schools said eliminating the department would leave children behind in a fundamentally unequal education system. This is a dark day for the millions of American children who depend on federal funding for a quality education, including those in poor and rural communities with parents who voted for Trump, NAACP President Derrick Johnson said. Opponents are already gearing up for legal challenges, including Democracy Forward, a public interest litigation group. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the order a tyrannical power grab and one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken. Margaret Spellings, who served as education secretary under Republican President George W. Bush, questioned whether whether the department will be able to accomplish its remaining missions, and whether it will ultimately improve schools. Will it distract us from the ability to focus urgently on student achievement, or will people be figuring out how to run the train?” she asked. Spellings said schools have always been run by local and state officials, and rejected the idea that the Education Department and federal government have been holding them back. Currently, much of the agencys work revolves around managing money both its extensive student loan portfolio and a range of aid programs for colleges and school districts, like school meals and support for homeless students. The agency also is key in overseeing civil rights enforcement. The Trump administration has not addressed the fate of other department operations, like its support for for technical education and adult learning, grants for rural schools and after-school programs, and a federal work-study program that provides employment to students with financial need. States and districts already control local schools, including curriculum, but some conservatives have pushed to cut strings attached to federal money and provide it to states as block grants to be used at their discretion. Block granting has raised questions about vital funding sources including Title I, the largest source of federal money to Americas K-12 schools. Families of children with disabilities have despaired over what could come of the federal department’s work protecting their rights. Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets roughly 14%. The money often supports supplemental programs for vulnerable students, such as the McKinney-Vento program for homeless students or Title I for low-income schools. Republicans have talked about closing the Education Department for decades, saying it wastes money and inserts the federal government into decisions that should fall to states and schools. The idea has gained popularity recently as conservative parents groups demand more authority over their childrens schooling. In his platform, Trump promised to close the department and send it back to the states, where it belongs. Trump has cast the department as a hotbed of radicals, zealots and Marxists who overextend their reach through guidance and regulation. Even as Trump moves to dismantle the department, he has leaned on it to promote elements of his agenda. He has used investigative powers of the Office for Civil Rights and the threat of withdrawing federal education money to target schools and colleges that run afoul of his orders on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports, pro-Palestinian activism and diversity programs. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, dismissed Trump’s claim that he’s returning education to the states. She said he is actually trying to exert ever more control over local schools and dictate what they can and cannot teach. Even some of Tumps allies have questioned his power to close the agency without action from Congress, and there are doubts about its political popularity. The House considered an amendment to close the agency in 2023, but 60 Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it. By COLLIN BINKLEY and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||