From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom

Smart Leaders Get Stuck

We find that smart leaders interpret and act on their fortitude differently and uniquely depending on whether they operate predominantly from a blue or red zone. Functional smart leaders—those who generally operate in the blue zone—tend to create tight boundaries for their work and operate strictly within those limits. Their working style is slow and methodical as they focus on execution until completion. But there is no constancy of purpose or flexibility in leaders’ fortitude when operating in the blue zone. They can get caught up with dreams or irrational fears and give up their projects easily. It is difficult for them to change their mind once it is made up. Stubbornness is one of the issues that leaders who consistently ...