本項翻譯係經世界總會授權，版權亦屬世界總會及中華民國國際演講協會所有，
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領導人為何會吃鱉

譯者：邱少為 Alex, Ping Tung

The distance between beloved leader and despised failure is shorter than we think.

Headlines regularly inform us of the public downfall of leaders from almost every area of endeavor – business, politics, religion and sports. One day these leaders are on top of the heap; the next, the heap’s on top of them.
不管在商場、政治、宗教或體育，任何領域的領導人物，被媒體大肆抨擊的新聞時有所聞。他們昨天或許高高在上，明天卻成為過街老鼠。

Of course, we think that such catastrophic failure could never happen to us. We’ve worked hard to achieve our well-deserved positions of leadership – whether at work, in our community or in Toastmasters – and we won’t give them up for anything! The bad news is that the distance between beloved leader and despised failure is shorter than we think.
當然，我們會認為這種厄運不會降臨在我們身上。不管在職場上、社區中或是演講會，我們很努力地坐上實至名歸的領導位置，也不願意為任何事輕易放棄。但，可怕的是，受擁戴的領導者，和不可饒恕的失敗之間的距離，常常只是一步之遙。

Ken Maupin, a practicing psychotherapist and colleague, has built his practice on working with high-performance personalities, including leaders in business, religion and sports. Ken and I have often discussed why leaders fail. Our discussions have led to the following “warning signs” of impending failure: 
我的同事，肯•毛平，是一位現任的心理師，曾經諮商過許多行業中具有高度表現性格的人士，包括商界、宗教和運動員。我們常常討論為什麼領導人會失敗，歸納出幾點「警訊」，表示失敗可能即將發生。

Warning Sign #1: A Shift in Focus
警訊 1：焦點轉移

This shift can occur in several ways. Often, leaders simply lose sight of what’s important. The laser-like focus that catapulted them to the top disappears, and they become distracted by the trappings of leadership, such as wealth and notoriety.
焦點轉移可能會透過幾種方式產生。通常，領導人可能僅僅失去對於重點的看法。那些曾經讓他們一步登天，像雷射般的焦點消失了；而他們也因為伴隨領導權而來的附屬品，像是財富或是狼藉聲名，顯得心煩氣躁。

Leaders are usually distinguished by their ability to “think big.” But when their focus shifts, they suddenly start thinking small. They micromanage, they get caught up in details better left to others and they become consumed with the trivial and unimportant. To make matters worse, this tendency can be exacerbated by an inclination toward perfectionism.
領導者通常被認為具有「大格局」的能力。但是一旦焦點轉移後，他們會突然變得目光如豆。大小事都想管，不願授權，以至於時間精力都浪費在瑣碎的雜務上。更有甚者，他們會認為這種作法是一種完美主義的追求。

A more subtle leadership derailer is an obsession with “doing” rather than “becoming.” The good work of leadership is usually a result of who the leader is. What the leader does flows naturally from inner vision and character. Therefore, it is possible for a leader to become too action oriented and, in the process, lose touch with the more important development of self.
一個更讓領導力脫軌的根深蒂固的念頭是，著重「做什麼」而不是「變成什麼」。領導人的人選往往決定領導的結果。內在的遠景和個性，又決定領導人的作為。所以，一個領導者可能在過程中，會太過執著於行為導向；反而對於更重要的自我發展，漠不關心。

What is your primary focus right now? If you can’t write it on the back of your business card, then it’s a sure bet that your leadership is suffering from a lack of clarity. Take the time necessary to get your focus back on what’s important. 
你眼前主要的焦點為何？如果你不能立刻寫在名片背面，可以肯定的是，你的領導正在失焦。花再多時間都必須將重要的焦點找回來。

Warning Sign #2: Poor Communication  
警訊 2：溝通不良

A lack of focus and its resulting disorientation typically lead to poor communication. Followers can’t possibly understand a leader’s intent when the leader isn’t sure what it is! And when leaders are unclear about their own purpose, they often hide their confusion and uncertainty in ambiguous communication.
失去焦點，以及隨之而來的搖擺不定，肯定會導致溝通不良。如果領導者都不知道往哪邊走，追隨者就更加無所適從了。一旦領導者不知所措時，通常會用模倰兩可的溝通方式來掩飾自己的迷惑。

Sometimes, leaders fall into the clairvoyance trap. In other words, they begin to believe that truly committed followers automatically sense their goals and know what they want without being told. Misunderstanding is seen by such managers as a lack of effort (or commitment) on the listener’s part, rather than their own communication negligence.
有時，領導人也會陷入洞察力的陷阱。換言之，他們起初會以為，無需多言，有作為的部屬，會自動了解自己的目標，知道要做什麼。會有誤解，顯然是因為這類經理人沒有扮演好聆聽的角色，而不是本身在溝通上的疏忽。

An underlying clarity of purpose – knowing what you mean – is the starting point for all effective communication. It’s only when you’re absolutely clear about what you want to convey that the hard work of communicating pays dividends.
所有有效溝通的起點，在於建立具有清晰目標的基礎 — 了解你在說什麼。 唯有絕對清楚地傳達自己所想要表達的，辛苦的溝通將來才會開花結果。

Warning Sign #3: Risk Aversion
警訊 3：厭惡風險

Third, leaders at risk often begin to be driven by a fear of failure rather than the desire to succeed. Past successes create pressure for leaders: “Will I be able to sustain outstanding performance?” “What will I do for an encore?” In fact, the longer a leader is successful, the higher his or her perceived cost of failure.
第三，領導人會陷入風險中，常常是因為對失敗的恐懼，大過於對成功的渴望。過去的成功，往往帶來壓力：「我有能力保持超凡的表現嗎？」「我如何做才能獲得滿堂彩？」事實上，領導人持續越久的成功，對於失敗的預期損失就越高。

When driven by the fear of failure, leaders are unable to take reasonable risks. They want to do only the tried and proven; attempts at innovation – typically a key to their initial success – diminish and eventually disappear.
當被失敗的恐懼駕凌時，領導人無法承受合理的風險。他們只想做垂手可得的事；那些原本讓他們勝出的革新企圖，不是減少，就是蕩然無存了。

Which is more important to you: the attempt or the outcome? Are you still taking reasonable risks? Prudent leadership never takes reckless chances that risk the destruction of what has been achieved, but neither is it paralyzed by fear. 
什麼對你才是重要的：企圖心還是成果？你仍然能承擔合理的風險嗎？審慎的領導人從不會莽撞行事，導致前功盡棄；也不會因為恐懼而裹足不前。

Warning Sign #4: Ethics Slip
警訊 4：道德淪喪

A leader’s credibility is the result of two aspects: what he or she does (competency) and who he or she is (character). A discrepancy between these two aspects creates an integrity problem.
兩個要素決定領導人是否可靠：一是能力，他做了什麼；二是性格，他是什麼樣的人。兩者間的差異，就形成了正直的問題。

The highest principle of leadership is integrity. When integrity ceases to be a leader’s top priority, when a compromise of ethics is rationalized away as necessary for the “greater good,” when achieving results becomes more important than the means to their achievement – that is the moment when a leader steps onto the slippery slope of failure.
領導的最高原則就是正直。當正直不再是一個領導人的第一考量，道德會因為屈就「更大的好處」而被打折；當達到目標的企圖，更重於達到目標的意義時，這也是領導人步入失敗路途的開始。

It is imperative to your leadership that you constantly subject your life and work to the highest scrutiny. Are there areas of conflict between what you believe and how you behave? Has compromise crept into your operational tool kit? One way to find out is to ask the people you depend on if they ever feel used or taken for granted. 
當你不斷地讓自己的生活和工作，需要使用最高標準檢視時，就已經危及你的領導力了。你的信念和你的行為是否相互衝突？折衷是否成為你的選項？一個尋找答案的方式，就是去詢問你所依賴的人，是否他們曾經感覺有過這麼一回事，或是將之視為理所當然？

Warning Sign #5: Poor Self Management
警訊 5:寬以律己

Tragically, if a leader doesn’t take care of himself – or herself, no one else will. Unless a leader is blessed to be surrounded by more-sensitive-than-normal followers, nobody will pick up on the signs of fatigue and stress. Leaders are often perceived to be superhuman, running on unlimited energy.
不消說，如果一個領導人不會照顧自己，就別指望他人了。除非，他非常非常幸運的，擁有一群非常自律的屬下，他們不會注意到領導人所呈現的疲勞和壓力。領導人常常被期待是一個超人，擁有一身用不完的精力。

While leadership is invigorating, it is also tiring. Leaders who fail to take care of their physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs are headed for disaster. Think of having a gauge for each of these four areas of your life – and check them often! When a gauge reaches the “empty” point, make time for refreshment and replenishment. Clear your schedule and take care of yourself - it’s absolutely vital to your leadership that you continue to grow and develop, a task that can be accomplished only when your tanks are full. 
領導權可以讓人精力充沛，同時也挺累人的。領導人若是疏於照顧自己的生理的、心理的、情緒的和精神上的需求，往往會變成一場災難。把上述生命中的四個領域量化，並且經常檢查。當指數接近零分時，趕快找時間充電，把指數填滿。挪出行程表上的一些時間，好好善待自己。對於你的領導力來說，可以持續成長和自我充實，這可是非常重要。只有加滿油，才能往目的地奔馳。

Warning Sign #6: Lost Love
警訊 6：失去愛

The last warning sign of impending disaster that leaders need to heed is discovering they are moving away from their first love and dream. The hard work of leadership should lead to fulfillment and even fun. But when leaders lose sight of the dream that compelled them to accept such responsibilities in the first place, they can find themselves working for causes that mean little to them. They must stick to what they love, and what originally motivated them, in order to maintain the fulfillment of leadership.
領導人必須留意的，最後一個預告即將發生地災難的警示，是發現對於最初的愛好與夢想已經漸行漸遠了。領導力最難的地方，是要能領導到圓滿，甚至要有趣。當領導人失去夢想時，這個夢想是一開始讓他們接受責任的動機，會發覺所做的一切都沒意義了。他們必須緊緊抓住他們所愛的，也就是最初激勵他們的，才能保持領導的圓滿。

To make sure that you stay on the track of following your first love, frequently ask yourself these three questions: Why did I initially assume leadership? Have those reasons changed? Do I still want to lead? 
確保自己總是不忘初衷，經常問自己3個問題：當初為何要接受領導權？那些理由改變了嗎？我還想要繼續領導嗎？

Heed the Signs
留心這些警訊

The warning signs in life – from stop lights to prescription labels – are there for our good. They protect us from disaster, and we would be foolish to ignore them. As you consider the six warning signs of leadership failure, don’t be afraid to take an honest look at youself. If any of the warnings ring true, take action today!
生活中的警訊，不管是紅燈或是藥品標籤，都是為我們好，保護我們免於傷害；如果視而不見，未免太愚蠢了。當你檢視領導失敗的6項警訊，必須勇敢地誠實面對自己。任何警訊一旦出現，立刻採取行動。

The good news is: By paying attention to these signs and heeding their warnings, you can avoid disaster and sustain the kind of leadership that is healthy and fulfilling both for yourself and your followers.
好消息是，透過留心這些訊息，以及其中透露的警告，就能趨吉避凶。讓領導權能維持健全和完整，對你和屬下都是一件好事。

Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE, is president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc. He is a professional speaker and author of You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader. Visit his website at www.marksanborn.com.

作者：Mark Sanborn, Sanborn企業的董事長，專業演講家以及《你成為領者者，不需要頭銜》一書作者。他的網址為：www.marksanborn.com