This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, feeding on manna from heaven, they were instructed by the Lord to not do what was right in their own eyes, but to follow a sound structure.
This lesson is still relevant today, as many one-man companies and small and medium enterprises struggle to grow beyond their founders. The blind spot of success can lead to the destruction of the very things that were laboured to build.
Effective succession planning is crucial to overcome this blind spot. A time comes when fresh eyes are needed, and eye glasses in the natural will not help to see the organisation better.
Wale Akinyemi, chief transformation officer at PowerTalks, has adopted a personal mantra: 'If everyone always agrees with me all the time, then there is no need for them to be there.' He believes that the greatest disciple is not the one who always agrees with him, but the one who helps him to see in the places where he is blind.
As the impeachment saga of President Donald Trump continues in the US, we are seeing the blind spot of success and power unfold in real time. When no one can tell the boss that he is on the wrong path, it can lead to the triumph of sycophancy and the emergence of alternative facts.
It is sad that Trump often said that the world was laughing at America, but then this past week at the NATO meeting in London, a video emerged of other world leaders gossiping and laughing at President Trump.
Like the saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go with others. Every dream has a team, and a team full of people who always agree with the leader is destined to fail.
The hard truth is that, if you are going to remain relevant, you have to give up control and let the organisation run without your whims and desires. When you do this well, in your absence lies the celebration of your legacy and relevance.
