Risk & Business Magazine Spectrum Insurance Magazine - Spring 2019 | Page 20

TOP LEADERS This One Habit Holds Top Leaders Back BY: JUDITH E. GLASER, ORGANIZATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGIST H it a wall? So many ambitious and talented leaders plateau and even regress once they “reach the top” of the ladder, mountain or organizational structure they’ve been climbing. There’s a simple reason this can happen, and it sometimes comes down to conversation. Top leaders still face new mountains to climb – engaging a broader audience of potential partners – both inside and outside the company to make change happen. While some top leaders tend to be great talkers, and are natural pitchmen for their visions and strategies, many plateau when it comes to connecting deeply. They’ve learned to talk at people, not with them, and it can hold them and their projects back. 20