Leading or Maintaining

A couple of weeks ago I was involved in a discussion on leadership. One of the participants brought up the concept of maintaining an organization as opposed to active visionary leading. This caused me to quickly remember a basic concept of leadership: there are certain aspects of maintenance that are not compatible to visionary leadership. A leader must decide if or when they are in a leadership role or a maintenance role.

There is nothing wrong with maintain an organization if the organization has created and built the infrastructure that necessitates maintenance to keep it alive. Maintenance alone will eventually lead to the death of an organization if there is not a vibrant leadership component taking place. Many organizations are maintaining systems and infrastructure that needs to be allowed to die so that new life can be born. Others are trying to maintain systems that are not completely developed and are therefore expending energy on incomplete processes that will not bring productivity. Their people will become frustrated and eventually leave the team or organization.

There was a time when iceboxes helped preserved food by keeping it cold. They allowed for a new era of food storage and the boom an entire manufacturing segment: various sizes, colors, styles and material components. Iceboxes brought new jobs, new businesses and lifestyle changes. Eventually the success of food preservation by cooling and freezing in ices boxes led others to invent more efficient and effective iceboxes: refrigerators. There were probably some icebox manufacturers and users who swore by their iceboxes and their ability to do a good job. Some probably said that those new refrigerants and electric motors were going to ruin food and destroy an entire industry built on hardwork and dedication. Some probably set up institutions aimed at maintaining and preserving the industry and the good name of iceboxes. We all know the outcome. Visionary leaders realized change was imminent and prepared for it.

The tools required to maintain are different from those needed to lead. Visionary leaders look from the present to the future; maintenance looks from the present to the past. Leaders learn from history, live in the present and prepare for the future; maintenance preserves history. Good leaders prepare for the future while establishing processes and teams to maintain the best of what has been established. Maintaining what adds value to an organization is a requirement of leadership. Being bold and determined not to be held back or distracted by the dead weight of traditionalism, mediocrity and complacency is also a task of visionary leaders. Operating a strong, growing organization is worlds away from maintaining one that needs new life breathed into it.

Resist the temptation of getting into maintenance mode before building a strong, vibrant, effective and sustainable organization that can monitor and measure it's progress against an established mission and vision.