You are the helm of this huge corporation with presence in seven countries in your continent. Ten years ago, you discovered the need for sustainable energy production and started researching on renewable energy. You decided to explore solar and wind power for electricity production. It was a painstaking process to get investors to buy into the idea and finally you got to set up the structures. It took you three years to establish the company that was once just an idea. The production was large enough to contribute to the national grid and in the fifth year you started expanding the business to neighboring countries. The success is evident. Today you employ 900 workers in the power plants and your revenue runs in millions of dollars. Your employees are happy and so are the investors.
A fresh university graduate is brought in by the investors. He has an engineering degree in renewable energy from a renowned university. The investors want you to relinquish your position as the Chief Executive Officer to this graduate because he has technical know-how on renewable energy. Would you relinquish your position and place your vision in this young graduate's hands? I sure wouldn't! As much as I respect the knowledge he acquired as an engineer in my company's field, it would take more than knowledge to run the corporation. Understanding how the production, distribution, finance, technology, human capital and administration work together as a system is critical. It would take much more effort to understand how operations in each of the seven countries run.
One might say this is an old-school mentality, rigid and closed to possibilities. The truth is, without a leader that understands the intricacies of keeping the organization running; it won’t be long before it crumbles. The female Eagle understands this pretty well as demonstrated when she is choosing a mate. She picks up a twig equal to her weight and flies to a certain height before dropping it for the male eagle to catch. The male Eagle must get hold of the twig before it hits the ground and bring it back to the female. She repeats the test over and over again; each time flying to a higher altitude until she is assured that the male Eagle has the ability to 'catch her when she falls'. The female Eagle trusts the male eagle only when he passes this test. Only then does she accept him as a lifelong mate.
In the same way, a leader should not just give up their responsibility to one who has not been tried and tested, proving him qualified to take up the reins. A great leader doesn't just leave their empire or vision to someone that has not demonstrated they can be trusted. Unless they are willing to be tested over and over again until the incumbent is certain of their heart's desire, their attitude, capabilities and whether indeed they have caught the vision.
As you get into that performance review session eyeing a promotion, consider whether you have passed the test. Can you be trusted to take the lead? And if you are sitting across the table, before handing over your vision to your protégé, ask yourself if they have passed the test well enough. Can you entrust your vision to them? It takes passion to carry on the vision of the founder and you cannot confirm this in an interview. If you have not tested them at all, then do your legacy a favor and give the test!
