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Why Being Effective is Not Enough: The Quest for True Leadership Greatness

Sreekanth Ganeshi
7 min readAug 24, 2024

The Allure of Effectiveness

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

The pressure to be effective is immense. Leaders are often judged by their ability to deliver results, meet targets, and drive success. The more boxes they tick, the more they are celebrated. But is being effective truly enough?

There’s a growing recognition that effectiveness, while important, does not encompass the full scope of what it means to be a great leader. The distinction between being merely effective and being a “good” leader is profound, and it’s a difference that has far-reaching implications for organizations, communities, and even nations.

We will delve into the critical differences between effective leadership and good leadership, exploring why the latter should be the ultimate goal for anyone in a position of influence.

1. Do the Right Things vs. Simply Getting Things Done

The distinction between doing things right and doing the right things is a cornerstone of leadership philosophy. Many leaders excel at getting things done — they are efficient, productive, and results-oriented. But the question that often goes unasked is: Are they doing the right things?

The Pitfall of Pure Effectiveness

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Sreekanth Ganeshi
Sreekanth Ganeshi

Written by Sreekanth Ganeshi

I am a leadership expert and author of 11+ books, dedicated to empowering and inspiring future leaders through mentorship. Books Link: https://rxe.me/C4B7RJ

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