We thought we had heard most everything at VIM Executive Coaching, when we met an executive who came to us disclosing that he literally falsified his credentials to gain a rather impressive position. He thought it was rather funny. He thought his co-workers were inadequate and his superiors to be sub-par.
He did not last very long as a coaching client! It was just as well.
We might add that he was eventually found out and terminated. However, he is hardly alone in being a part of what is known as someone who “fakes it ‘til he makes it.” Though we are intentionally avoiding specifics, at this time, there is a highly publicized scandal of a female executive who is allegedly guilt of the same mentality. She could be facing up to 20 years in prison.
The Mentality is Enabled
Unfortunately, the fake-it mentality is often enabled by technology. It is counter-intuitive. We would think it is impossible to “beat the internet,” but it’s not true. Indeed, there are online tutorials that specifically teach viewers how to “cheat” the algorithms of job sites, how to secure fake references and job histories.
The history of executive leadership is replete with examples of falsified letters of recommendation, forged transcripts and even phony interviews set-up with friends of candidates. There are authenticated stories of such “falsified leadership discoveries” from hi-tech to professional and collegiate sports. When the discovery is made by the hiring organization it never ends well and in fact, it can be quite embarrassing for both the employee and the company.
Why does this happen?
From a work related, and not a psychological point of view, it is clearly a lack of authenticity but more so a lack of mindfulness – and that is the bigger tragedy.
The Path is Hard
It seems a given to say, but work is challenging. Not bad, but challenging. Whether an executive leader has risen in the world of biotech, sporting goods or software design, the path can be rocky.
Leadership lessons are not always easy to learn however the experience is invaluable. There is no way around it. Mindfulness makes the path easier. Nevertheless, developing a more mindful approach, a more mindful, mindset, requires the executive leader to turn inward. To explore themselves, how they relate to others and to being in the moment.
Fortunately, there are no ways to “game that system.” There are no YouTube tutorials that are effective at telling anyone how they can cheat themselves into believing that they are mindful. It simply does not work that way.
When an aspiring leader wishes to be more mindful, how she relates to the world undergoes a change; how he engages subordinates, co-workers, other leaders and boards changes as well. Mindful executive leaders are authentic leaders.
Even if credentials are faked, an executive cannot forge away their essence. And, that is the most important aspect to this conversation. Sooner or later (and it never fails) the executive who found a backdoor way to developing “credentials,” is almost always found out. However, the inauthentic leader who is not mindful is always found out.
There are, unfortunately, many more “Fake It ‘til You Make It Executives” than you might imagine. Fortunately, there are also gems in our executive leadership midst who are mindful, authentic and effective executive leaders. Their qualities may not instantly pop up on a job search algorithm, but the discovery in finding them is well-worth the effort.