Mark C. Winters explains organizational whiplash: when visionary leaders chase new ideas so fast their teams can't keep up, creating frustration and inconsistency. He argues visionaries need an integrator to act as a buffer between their constant ideas and the organization's actual work.
Hi, everybody, it's Mark C. Winners. And today I want to talk to you about something we call organizational whiplash. So the first point I want to make is I'm really kind of talking to the visionaries today. And visionaries, you guys are great. We couldn't do the things that we do without the special gifts that the visionaries have. Your idea machines, you're great leaders. You can see the future. But along with those great gifts come some challenges. Come some things that we have to have to be aware of and work on. And one of those things is, is something we call organizational whiplash. So here's what happens when we have organizational whiplash. The organization is so tuned into you and your ideas that when you turn your head in a certain direction, the whole organization turns along with you. And then being a good visionary, soon another idea will come along and you'll turn your head in a completely different direction. And guess what? The whole organization turns their head in that same direction with you. Then you turn your head back in another direction, and the organization is just turning their head from side to side trying to keep up with you, and they can't keep up with your pace. Another trait that a visionary will have is they tend to be either all in on something or all out on something. And it can change back and forth quite a bit. So it's almost like this somebody taking a light switch and turning it on and turning it off and turning it on and turning it off. And it just has a very frustrating effect on the folks in the organization. And really, it leads to a lack of organizational consistency. So my ask for you today is I want you to allow the integrator to be the buffer for the organization to dampen the effects of this just really natural tendency you have, which is actually related to your big gifts of being this idea machine, seeing the future, being the great leader that you are. So allow that to work for you. So really, there's three key points I want you to walk away with today. Number one, you're an idea machine. Number two, as my good friend Jason Williford says, the visionary's greatest threat to their current idea is this next great idea that they've got coming along. And number three, want you to be aware, want you to be patient. And I recognize the irony in asking you visionaries to be patient. Thanks for watching. Today at Rocket Fuel Ventures, we're all about creating the most powerful visionary integrator duos on the planet. And we that by helping you crystallize what it means to be a visionary and an integrator so you can understand if that concept can help you, and if you decide it can, to get connected with your complementary counterpart and then finally maximize that relationship to make it everything it can be to help you take your company to the next level. So if you want more rocket Fuel, please check out our website@rocketfuelnow.com and that's where you can sign up for the weekly videos like this. Be sure you're getting these on a regular basis. You can also take the assessments so you can understand as a visionary or as an integrator, where your strengths lie and what the shape is of your two piece puzzles that can help you find that complementary counterpart. And finally, of course, read the book Rocket Fuel and keep those great reviews coming. So until next time, go Rocket.
