The Brilliance Trap

Here's a trap I see lots of executives falling into, and it's hurting their organization's strategy, culture, and effectiveness.

It's the perspective of valuing brilliance over getting better.

When new nonprofit CEOs and Department Heads come into their roles, there's a weird thing that happens. It's the expectation - and sometimes requirement - that the leader will bring brilliant, NEW ideas that will fundamentally shift the trajectory of the organization.

So many hiring processes favor "brilliant innovators" who seem to be full to the brim with amazing ideas.

Brilliant new ideas can be exciting and impactful, but without proper strategy, budgeting, staffing, operational planning, etc., we won't fully realize them - and may actually do more harm than good.

To avoid this trap, organizations can instead focus on getting better. Here’s how.