Hacking Leadership

About the Author

Mike Myatt, widely recognized as America's Top CEO Coach, has made significant contributions to the field of leadership development. As the CEO of N2growth, Myatt has provided invaluable insights and coaching to over 150 public company CEOs, including leaders from AT&T, Bank of America, Deloitte, IBM, and other major corporations. His extensive experience is encapsulated in his books, such as "Leadership Matters" and "Hacking Leadership," where he shares his profound understanding of the leadership challenges faced by today's executives. Myatt's work focuses on practical strategies for improving leadership effectiveness and creating sustainable organizational success.

Main Idea

"Hacking Leadership" by Mike Myatt is a comprehensive guide to identifying and closing the critical gaps that can hinder leaders and their organizations from achieving their full potential. Myatt identifies eleven key areas, termed "gaps," that leaders must address: leadership, purpose, future, mediocrity, culture, talent, knowledge, innovation, expectation, complexity, and failure. Each gap represents a potential blind spot or weakness in a leader's approach. Myatt offers practical "hacks" or strategies to bridge these gaps, emphasizing the need for continuous self-improvement, adaptability, and a commitment to fostering a culture of leadership. The book is a call to action for leaders to challenge their assumptions, innovate, and lead with purpose and integrity.

Table of Contents

1. Hacking the Leadership Gap
2. Hacking the Purpose Gap
3. Hacking the Future Gap
4. Hacking the Mediocrity Gap
5. Hacking the Control Gap
6. Hacking the Status Quo
7. Hacking the Safety Gap
8. Hacking the Culture Gap
9. Hacking the Talent Gap
10. Hacking the Knowledge Gap
11. Hacking the Innovation Gap
12. Hacking the Complexity Gap
13. Hacking the Failure Gap
14. Final Thoughts

Detailed Analysis

Hacking the Leadership Gap

The first gap Myatt addresses is the "Leadership Gap," which highlights the discrepancy between a leader's perceived and actual effectiveness. This gap often arises from a lack of self-awareness and understanding of how others perceive one's leadership style. Myatt emphasizes the importance of leaders recognizing their strengths and weaknesses and seeking feedback from peers and subordinates. He notes,

"All truly great leaders have one thing in common—they have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses" - Mike Myatt

. By acknowledging these gaps, leaders can work towards improving their skills and building trust within their teams.

• Understanding and acknowledging personal biases.
• Engaging in continuous learning and development.
• Seeking and acting on constructive feedback from others.

Hacking the Purpose Gap

The "Purpose Gap" explores the necessity of aligning individual and organizational purpose. Myatt argues that true leadership goes beyond personal ambition and is deeply connected to a higher purpose that benefits others. He states,

"Real leadership means you care first and foremost about something beyond yourself" - Mike Myatt

. Leaders who lack a clear purpose may struggle to inspire and motivate their teams. Myatt suggests that leaders should define their core values and ensure that these values resonate with the organization's mission, thereby creating a cohesive and purpose-driven culture.