Leadership depends upon lessons from the past as well as goals for the future. But what matters most, at any given time, is whats being done NOW. The best and brightest WOWs among us are examples of exemplary endurance and continuous, forward-moving successes. But sometimes leadership is successful even when its fleeting.

What is NOW?

• NOW leaders are WOWs of the moment
• NOW leaders may have been DUDs in the past or may have DUD moments to come
• NOW leaders step up to the plate
• NOW leaders are timely, but perhaps not timeless
• NOW leaders may be one-hit-wonders
• NOW leaders seize opportunities, but may not be able to hold on

When is NOW?

• NOW doesn’t necessarily mean today; it means whenever WOW leadership was displayed
• NOW leaders often emerge when the situation emerges, as in a crisis or disaster scenario when quick action is required
• NOW leaders are sometimes born when fledgling ideas are hatched; kick starting a company, product, or brands success
• NOW leaders can be dormant WOWs who are awakened when the opportunity quite literally knocks at their door

Who are NOWs?

 

• Steve Jobs: He WOWed with the creation of Apple (NOW moment), but was “overthrown” from power and left the company. Later, he stepped up to save the faltering business (NOW moment #2).
• Mark Zuckerberg: He seized the Internet opportunity to bring social media to the forefront of technology (NOW moment) for with creation of Facebook; but he has yet to prove if his leadership skills are up to the challenge of sustaining the company.
• Rudy Ruettiger: My recently blogged-about movie hero Rudy beat all odds to get accepted to University of Notre Dame and play football at the school (NOW moment). Later, however, he made a bad business decision that got him in deep trouble with the SEC.
• Staak Family: We stepped up when a situation presented itself, and helped lead a team of local volunteers to save a flooded, eroding road in Guatemala (NOW moment).
• You? Someone You know? Tell us about your NOW moment, or about a NOW leader you met along the way.

In the next blog, I’ll offer some tips on how to seize the NOW moment.

-Sheri Staak