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We can all agree that countless leadership styles exist, each with its own unique sets of strengths and weaknesses. One that has recently captured our attention, for its potentially unintended detrimental impact, is what we have come to know as 'Jellyfish Leadership'. The term was coined by my business partner, Carol, inspired by an interaction with a client that left us puzzled and uneasy.
First, imagine a jellyfish in the vast, open sea – floating effortlessly and adapting to the ebbs and flows of the ocean. The jellyfish's movement is not self-directed but at the mercy of the water currents, tides, and winds. It is an embodiment of passivity in motion, a creature that responds reactively rather than proactively to the environment it finds itself in.
Similarly, 'jellyfish leadership' surfaces in the corporate ecosystem as a form of leadership where decisiveness should reign, yet wavering and indecision are the norms. Leaders showing this style seem to lack purpose or direction. Instead, each of their proclamations or directives seems to fluctuate with the tides of industry trends, new management fads, the latest advice from consultants or, sometimes, their own mercurial instincts.
This interaction is what catapulted us to put a name on it:
We were enlisted by a client to fill an urgently required position. After a couple of weeks of deliberate and intensive search, we found out, much to our surprise, that the role they insisted was urgent was no longer the fire they wanted putting out. Instead, they had pivoted to wanting another position filled urgently, with the previous role abandoned like a ship lost at sea.
By failing to provide a clear strategy and forward-looking guidance, these leaders inadvertently set their teams on a path of confusion, with energy and resources squandered in the pursuit of objectives that may change at any moment.
And this is not an isolated incident. We unfortunately have so many other experiences where the initial requirements were suddenly abandoned or redefined, causing a ripple effect of disarray.
Let me share another experience.
It was that time of year for the performance management period and this organization asked that we assisted in setting up their systems. After being very curious, we found the focus was on integrating their mission and values into the annual performance evaluation - a goal communicated by the CEO. They had implemented these values the previous year and felt they were effective in doing so, so they were interested in how they influenced employees in their roles.
However, after checking in with our point of contact, we received surprising news. The CEO's performance goals had pivoted from values to competencies. We were stunned, given our ongoing efforts. Unclear as to why a well-reasoned strategy would be disrupted, we discovered that the CEO, inspired by a recent book, wanted to embed competencies into performance reviews, looking to future expectations. It took considerable explanations to stress that performance reviews ought to be retrospective, not future-oriented.
Navigating these unpredictable waves can be taxing, but there are solutions like effective coaching. Coaching can help leaders in firming their decision-making process and improving communication, thereby avoiding the metamorphosis into a 'jellyfish leader'.
Coaching encourages leaders to reflect and evaluate their decisions critically. By examining the impacts of their choices on their teams, leaders can better understand how rapid and uncommunicated changes can lead to organizational inefficiencies. Moreover, it empowers leaders to adopt a strategic mindset, foreseeing potential hurdles and discrepancies that might prompt future changes in directives and addressing them proactively.
Consistent and open communication is a keystone in any leadership coaching program. Through conversation, leaders can learn to clearly convey their ideas, expectations, and any changes. This transparency helps align everyone's efforts in the organization, ensuring effective execution of tasks and roles.
By subjecting employees to a constantly shifting landscape of priorities and expectations, it has the potential to dampen employee morale, hinder productivity, and breed inefficiencies. However, embracing effective coaching as a guiding beacon can help leaders chart a steady course towards strategic decision-making and transparent communication. By investing in leadership coaching programs, organizations can transform their once jellyfish-like leaders into strong, directional helms, fostering a foundation of clear alignment, and emboldening teams to navigate and conquer the turbulent seas of the business world with confidence and determination.
