And with that, people are more likely to want to please us by listening more attentively, agreeing more, and laughing at our jokes. Let’s analyze this dynamic step by step.Īs we rise in the ranks, we acquire more power. And the bigger their ego grows, the more they are at risk of ending up in an insulated bubble, losing touch with their colleagues, the culture, and ultimately their clients.
In short, the higher leaders rise in the ranks, the more they are at risk of getting an inflated ego. And this risk is a real problem for senior leaders. This story is a good example of how one leader actively worked to avoid the risk of insularity that comes with holding senior positions. And if I don’t have a finger on the pulse of the organization, I can’t lead effectively.” Further Reading
When asked about the changes, Cees explained, “If I don’t meet people, I won’t get to know what they think. Cees decided to switch from his corner office on the 20 th floor to an empty desk in an open-floor plan on a lower floor. Since the elevator didn’t stop at other floors and only a select group of executives worked on the 20 th floor, he rarely interacted with other Carlsberg employees. But during those two months, he noticed that he saw very few people throughout the day. These were the perks of his new position, ones that spoke to his power and importance within the company.Ĭees spent the next two months acclimating to his new responsibilities. And with its picture windows, his office offered a stunning view of Copenhagen. The card locked out all the other floors for the elevator so that he could go directly to his corner office on the 20 th floor.
On his first day as CEO of the Carlsberg Group, a global brewery and beverage company, Cees ‘t Hart was given a key card by his assistant.