Turnaround leaders

2/20/2014

Dr. Mark Rutland wrote a superb book entitled “Relaunch.”  He discussed the challenges inherent in being the turnaround leader – the person hired or selected to rescue a failing organization whether it be a military unit, a business, a church, an educational institution, and more.  Having been the turnaround leader or associated with one in the military and in education, I will paraphrase from Dr. Rutland whose experience and words mirror some of my own.  Turnaround leaders are not the legacy leaders.  Turnaround leaders create unwanted change, move everyone’s cheese, bring in new players, and prepare the organization for the legacy leader who can then restore stability and harmony if required.  Dr. Rutland described turnaround leaders as “gunslingers” who clean up the town, run off the bad guys, close the saloons, then get on their horse and ride off.  A turnaround leader normally has few friends and serves a lonely term of office.  When he (or she) mounts up and rides away, the organization experiences some relief and often praises the deserving spouse of the turnaround architect, but little is said about the leader who saved their jobs.

Dr. Rutland’s experience and description is informative as he was the leader who rescued Calvary Baptist Church and Southeastern University in Orlando and subsequently, Oral Roberts University in Tulsa.