Leaders Who Think at Light Speed

Is it possible for a leader to be too smart and too quick thinking? I have the privilege of coaching some of the most intelligent, high profile, fastest thinking people in Asia. Being smart and quick thinking has played a significant part in getting them where they are today. So how could super intelligence and light speed thinking become a leader’s weakness?

As managers move up the career ladder certain strengths, like ‘light speed thinking’, can become a weakness if they have poor self awareness. Super-quick thinkers at the top can display some or all of the following traits;

Poor listening skills

Impatience

Decision making before all facts are known

A constantly ‘busy’ mind

Dismissive of people who do not think at the same pace

Quick to judge

In turn, these traits can lead to;

Shutting people down who might have a great idea

Demotivation (“Whatever I come up with will be knocked back, so why bother”)

Employee disengagement (“There’s no point in bring this issue to his attention as he won’t listen anyway”)

Failure to develop team members

Poor employee retention (People can easily detect when they have been dismissed in the mind of the leader)

I’m not saying such managers should become slow thinkers. Their brains are probably hard wired that way anyway. What they can do is become more aware of their behaviour and how it can negatively affect other people when over used.

One way of achieving improved self awareness is through a 360 survey, either via an on-line instrument or a telephone survey by an independent consultant or Coach. This can work wonders IF the right 360 tool is used and IF the feedback is delivered by a trained professional.

One of my favourite 360 tools for helping leaders with jet speed thinking syndrome is Management Research Group’s, Leadership Effectiveness Analysis 360 (LEA360). For more information about the tool visit, www.mrg.com.

To learn more about using a 360 in your particular situation, call me on +65 9677 8043.