There has been a lot of talk recently about leaders of all kinds leaving. With the General Election last week, we saw the democratic manner in which a leader has to leave – when they are voted out, writes Kirsty Green.
But when should someone still holding the reins of power let go?
Let’s look at Joe Biden. Following a poor election debate last week, there has been a lot of talk about whether he is fit and strong enough, aged 81, to stand in the election for the Democrats in the United States. Since the beginning of the Euros, we have heard questions about Gareth Southgate too and whether or not he has done as much as he can with the England squad and should step away to let a more tactically experienced manager take the helm after this tournament. It may seem strange still asking that question when he has got us to another semi-final in a major tournament – our first on foreign soil – and could well lead us to an historic victory on Sunday. But wouldn’t that be the perfect time to hand over?
We see many leaders struggling to know when to go, like Boris Johnson clinging on to his Prime Ministership until the bitter end, despite scandal after scandal buffeting the party.
There are a few examples of leaders bowing out more gracefully, however. Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool a club hero. He didn’t bid farewell at the height of his success but he also didn’t cling on. He left because, at 56 years old (yes, 56, Mr Biden) and after nine years of working in one of the most pressurised jobs in sport, he felt he could no longer do the role with the energy it required.
In politics we can look to New Zealand to see hugely popular Jacinda Ardern step aside as Prime Minister last year when she felt she “no longer had enough in the tank” to do the job.
Closer to home, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said goodbye to her role last year too, citing the ‘brutality’ of the job as taking its toll and wanting to spend more time with family.
There are those who question the decision to leave when things are going well. Is it because they didn’t have the tenacity to achieve what they wanted – independence, the quadruple or whatever goal it is presumed they were chasing?
I’d argue that chasing a single goal can sometimes be the cause of outstaying their welcome.
Boris may have wanted to gain a majority at an election, Biden may want to be the one to keep Trump out of power for another term, Southgate may have his sights set on becoming the manager that won a major trophy (or more) for England, but in chasing, do they risk losing sight of the bigger picture? Do they see their own weaknesses?
If Southgate stays on, will he deprive England players in this hugely talented squad of working with a manager who could get even more out of them? If Biden stays on, does he risk losing votes for the party from an electorate concerned about his ability to do the day job and hand power to the man he is trying to keep out? Indeed, even now, stepping aside could cause harm for his party and plunge it into chaos. The real time to step aside was two years ago, at the midterm elections when Democrats did far better than expected. But I think it takes something to quit while you’re ahead. Something it seems few people in power have – humility and the ability to be honest with themselves.
Perhaps it is because it takes a certain dogged, single-minded, focused character to achieve these higher echelons of control that leaders appear to struggle to know when to go.
So, if your successful character, and the intoxicating taste of power prevent you from being honest with yourself about your limits, what should you do?
When I listened to a podcast about Joe Biden recently, the American journalist said she believed Biden would only listen to his family about when was the right time to go. Biden has said himself that it is only God who can tell him to step aside.
While listening to your family and a higher power is not bad thing, I think surrounding yourself by strong, honest, impartial advisors – and listening to them – could also help.
Sometimes people need perspective and to understand that leaving isn’t quitting, that success can continue and perhaps even thrive beyond you. And as an advisor I think the best question to ask is – what more can you give? Plodding on isn’t fair on your team. As a leader, you need to know you have more to give, more in the tank, more grit to withstand the brutality, more aces up your sleeve, another 1% you can carve out. If you can’t. Perhaps it’s time to give someone else the opportunity.
