Many of us have worked around (occasionally for) leaders who fall from grace, either due to personal misconduct, embarrassing the organization, or something else above and beyond mere poor performance. The leader becomes a pariah. Sometimes that fallen leader did things that made a lasting positive difference in the organization, and the accomplishments may be worth retaining and retelling. Unfortunately, because of the leader’s sullied reputation, the accomplishments may be discounted or ignored. It is as though nothing the leader did is valued, despite the possibility that the leader’s errors were unrelated to the accomplishment. And thus, by ignoring the positive story, no one benefits.

Have you experienced this? I have, more than once. And in some cases I had to wait several years until memories of the leader sufficient faded away, before I could tell the good news stories and use them to others’ benefits. Frustrating? Yes. Unfortunate or unnecessary? You be the judge after listening to this episode.

Original release can be found here: https://reflections.talkingaboutorganizations.com/4-3-when-a-leader-falls-from-grace-should-that-negate-their-positive-contributions/