Snyder argues that great leaders don’t use failure as a reason to blame others, don’t avoid responsibility or become victims, but rather, “seek out the counsel of a mentor and/or turn their attention inward for reflection and introspection.†He advances the following principles of his “Struggle Lens†that can guide leaders:
- Leadership is a struggle that provides a gateway to learning and growth;
- All human beings have flaws, including leaders;
- While accomplishing goals is important, human values must drive leaders;
- Leaders must accept the world as it is, not as they would like it to be, while still personally striving to make the world better.
Drawing on his experience of working with Bill Gates in the early days of Microsoft, and his knowledge of leaders in companies such as Apple Target and General Mills, Snyder proposes a framework for leaders to thrive in struggle: become grounded; explore new pathways and deepen adaptive strategy.
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My experience in coaching high-level executives has led me to conclude that far too many of them suffer from either a narcissistic-like desire to be perfect, and always right and a reticence to admit mistakes or even see them as a necessary part of being a good leader. In many ways our culture, with its demand and expectation for perfect leaders has been responsible for recruiting and promoting these kinds of leaders, who in the end don’t serve their organizations, or society well.
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Snyder’s book makes a significant contribution to realizing that struggles and failures make the best leaders.
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