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Fascinated by the Top: What Does It Really Mean to Lead?

Fascinated by the Top: What Does It Really Mean to Lead?


November 21, 2024


We have an enduring fascination with those at the top—those who rise to success and prominence. They’re admired by many and envied by some. This often manifests in a mindset of "quita te tú pa ponerme yo" ("move aside so I can take your place"). But the true challenge is not reaching the top—it’s staying there.

Sports teach us this lesson clearly. The world watches players like Messi and Ronaldo, who may be past their peak, and rising stars like Yamal and Williams, eager to take their place. However, as my blog readers, Anthony and Ted rightly point out, in our society, reaching the top is often seen as the ultimate goal, an end in itself, rather than the beginning of the more challenging task: organizing around a vision and driving sustained performance.

Too often, there’s little correlation between the output or value delivered by those at the top and the rewards they receive—or the raises they demand. Some argue there’s an unwritten expectation that certain leaders are merely caretakers, waiting for instructions from politicians instead of proactively shaping their organizations.

Just today, a colleague sent me an article arguing that the former CEO of UTS should have faced legal consequences for his role in sell-ing Curaçao’s national telecommunications company to a foreign entity. I’m not sure about the legality of his actions, but I’ve long maintained—both before and after the sale—that we should never have sold our telecommunications infrastructure.

Leading from the top is no easy task. Yet, the allure of high salaries and prestige sparks a relentless rat race. It reminds me of the Peter Principle: people rise to their level of incompetence. Does that imply those at the top are inherently incompetent, or am I misinterpreting it?

Ultimately, our fascination with the top remains strong, but our understanding of it is shallow. We rarely discuss leadership critically, informed by research or data. That’s why the book “Alleen aan de top” (Alone at the Top) is so captivating—it dives into what leadership at the top truly entails.

I invite you to join us for the December 2, 2024, book discussion. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper perspective on what it really means to lead. Sign up via this link!


Miguel Goede

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