The Leadership Gap No One Talks About

(Excerpt from Soaring Beyond Midlife.)

Soaring Beyond Midlife addresses a crucial gap in leadership literature, which often fails to differentiate between early adulthood and midlife. Despite leadership's pervasive presence online, generating billions of discussions, the critical phase of midlife is often overlooked in leadership studies. This oversight reveals a gap in our understanding of midlife's unique challenges and the lack of tailored development programs for midlife executives.

Some of today's most influential leadership theories date back to three decades ago when social psychologists deemed midlife the 'last uncharted territory in human development.’ Although robust and frequently cited in my own work, these theories often overlook the distinct qualities emerging after forty, perpetuating the myth that exceptional leadership traits are rare or innate.

For example, Robert Kegan, an adult-development psychologist, suggests that only about 1% of adults achieve what he calls the self-transforming mind, the highest level in his model. Similarly, Jim Collins, known for ‘Good to Great,’ describes Level 5 leadership, as the pinnacle of his model, combining humility with fierce resolve. According to Collins, this level of leadership is rare but can be developed under the right circumstances. He suggests these circumstances might include self-reflection, conscious personal development, a mentor, a great teacher, loving parents, or a significant life experience.

This idea forms the core premise of this book. It posits that the right circumstances for such development are inherent in midlife. Furthermore, these opportunities are far more common than we might have previously thought.

While they have greatly advanced our understanding of leadership, prominent figures like Jim Collins, Robert Kegan, Patrick Lencioni, and Simon Sinek all developed their foundational leadership theories before experiencing midlife, typically in their thirties.

While their theories and writings are excellent, the unique phase of midlife, with its distinct challenges and opportunities for growth, remains less examined. This observation extends to writers like Brené Brown, Richard Barrett, Stephen Covey, Marshall Goldsmith, and John Maxwell, whose seminal works, even if published later in their careers, did not explicitly navigate the specific dynamics of midlife leadership. This isn't to detract from their contributions but to highlight an area ripe for further exploration, suggesting that the journey of understanding leadership, especially through the lens of midlife, is an ongoing process.

When I decided to focus exclusively on leaders and C-suite teams over 40, I quickly discovered that it is surprisingly easier to transform top teams when embracing the profound changes inherent in midlife.

Traditional leadership programs tend to be more prescriptive, often designed for executives in the earlier stages of their careers. These programs emphasize skill acquisition and structured learning paths, catering to those still climbing the corporate ladder.

In contrast, leadership development for midlife executives benefits from a fundamentally different approach. At this stage, leaders are often experiencing significant personal and professional transformations, characterized by deeper self-awareness and a reevaluation of their goals and values.

Focusing only on midlife leaders leverages this unique mindset, emphasizing reflective practices, legacy-building, and the integration of personal and professional growth. These programs are less about prescribing a one-size-fits-all path and more about harnessing the rich, introspective energy of midlife to unlock profound, lasting change.

What’s been truly surprising to me is how much easier this focus has made my work. The transformations I witness feel more organic and natural, leveraging the profound changes midlife executives are already experiencing. Tapping into these inherent shifts enables the natural emergence of the team's collective best self. This book aims to capture these organic transformations through fiction and poetry, bringing the principles to life in a uniquely engaging way.

Considering the unique perspectives and maturity midlife brings, could it not be a crucible for refining and enhancing leadership qualities often considered rare in younger leaders? What if traits that appear as inherent gifts in younger executives become more prevalent as we age? With a deeper understanding of neuroplasticity and the unique insights offered by midlife, this period presents a prime opportunity to broaden our approach to leadership development.