This archive report was first published on 7 October 2021.
Published on October 7, 2021, by Wale Akinyemi, a renowned transformation officer and convenor of the Street University.
As a gardener once said, 'not to take things at face value' is a crucial lesson in leadership. A beautiful lawn may appear lush and green from a distance, but upon closer inspection, it may be overrun with weeds. Similarly, a successful organization may seem to be thriving, but beneath the surface, toxic individuals may be causing harm.
These toxic individuals, or 'weeds,' can be identified by their negative attitudes and behaviors, which can spread quickly throughout the organization, causing destruction and chaos. In fact, various studies have shown that four types of leaders exist in an organization: high performers who uphold the company's values, those who neither perform nor share the values, those who are not high performers but great ambassadors of the institution's values, and finally, high performers who do not uphold or share the organization's values.
The most dangerous of these types is the high performer who does not share the organization's values. Such individuals can be likened to a fruit tree that appears to be laden with fruit but is actually toxic. If left unchecked, they can bring down even the most successful organizations.
Great leaders must learn to identify and remove these toxic individuals from their teams, just as a gardener removes weeds from a lawn. This requires a close look at the individuals and their behaviors, as well as a willingness to make tough decisions. By doing so, leaders can ensure the success and sustainability of their organization.
