The incoming CEO runs into his predecessor at a social function. Unsure of protocol, he is relieved when the former CEO, who was recently fired, takes the initiative and breaks the ice. The conversation goes like this:

“I just wanted to wish you the best. Your coming and my going are not connected, so don’t worry about any hard feelings.”
“Thank you, I appreciate–”
“I do have one important piece of business for you. I left you two letters in the top left drawer. The first one will get you through your first big crisis. The second one will help you in your second crisis. My predecessor helped me this way, and I’m going to do the same for you. OK?”
“Sure… I just…”
“You’ll do great. Good luck!”

That was the entire conversation.

A year later, the new CEO found himself in hot water. It was a real “damned if you do, damned if you don’t“ situation, and he remembered the letters. He opened the first one, in which he found a single typed sentence on a sheet of letterhead. It read:

”Blame the former CEO.“

The strategy worked and the crisis passed, but not a year after that, a second major issue erupted, sending the CEO scrambling for the second letter. This one read:

”Write two letters.“

—

I heard this on a golf course and I wish I could remember who told it to me. Like most jokes, this one gets its power from the fact that it’s about 40-67% true. (Depending on which statistics you believe, average tenure for corporate leaders appears to be somewhere in the 3-5 year range.)

More people should be aware of the pressures on those at the top of an organization. Not so they can sympathize–I’m under no illusion that anyone is going to feel bad for a person with a multi-million dollar severance–but so that the next time a problem lands on their lap that wasn’t of their making, and they go ask their boss for help, they appreciate what a luxury it is to be able to ask a boss for help.

If you really want to succeed, that’s one security blanket you’re going to have to give up… sooner rather than later.

Posted under Self-Development, Leadership