Washington, Ike, and …. Sinegal?
Back on the Fourth of July, I found myself thinking about George Washington—and eventually about the leaders I’ve admired most throughout my life. I noticed that many of them shared a quality we don’t talk about nearly enough:
They understood that the office was bigger than the person occupying it.
Washington voluntarily walked away from the presidency. Dwight Eisenhower understood that his job wasn’t to be the smartest or most indispensable man in the room, but to make an extraordinarily complicated organization work. And in business, leaders like Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal built organizations strong enough to keep thriving long after they left the CEO’s chair.
Those examples get at something larger – true leadership is stewardship.
Whether you’re the President of the United States, the CEO of a company, the GM of a farmer cooperative, or the local football coach, the position you hold is temporary. Your responsibility is to leave the organization stronger than you found it—and capable of succeeding without you.
So perhaps one of the best leadership questions we can ask ourselves is a simple one:
What happens to this place when I’m gone?
In this month’s blog, I look at Washington, Eisenhower, Costco, and what they can teach us about building organizations that are bigger than any one person.
In the Field…
I’ve been talking to a number of leaders across many different industries over the past couple of months and I’m continuing to hear very similar responses to this question….
“What is your biggest challenge?”
It’s people, or some variation of it. “We can’t find enough quality people,” “We keep losing our employees,” or “We’ve got to be more intentional about developing talent,” are all the types of things that I’m hearing from leadership.
Here’s the thing, I don’t think this is new. I’d be willing to bet Roman generals would complain to Caesar from time to time that they had trouble finding quality centurions (but I digress).
It’s an ongoing challenge and veteran organizational leaders know it all too well. Give us a call and we can work on things together!
Looking Ahead…
September is going to be an exciting month. If you’re in Warren County (that’s right south of Des Moines for you non-Iowans), I’ll be presenting for the Indianola Chamber of Commerce’s Business Series. Check it out here!
I’m also hosting a three-part development series I’m calling “The Leadership Laboratory” in Warren County in on Sep. 15, Oct. 13, and Nov. 17. If you’re interested, drop me a line!
One More Thing….
Are you looking for a keynote speaker or a breakout session for your next event? I present and discuss a number of different themes that will leave your attendees feeling like “Wow, he really gets what we’re going through out here.” You can learn more about my presentations here. Contact me today and I will tailor a presentation to the needs of your audience and work alongside you to provide the experience you’re looking for!
Meet…
Nicholas A. Krehbiel, Ph.D.
Nicholas Krehbiel, owner of Agri-Prime Consulting, guides rural businesses and organizations through evolving challenges. He draws on his background in agriculture, education, and farmer cooperatives to strengthen governance and promote accountability while honoring core community values. Nicholas is dedicated to helping institutions adapt their practices for the modern landscape, supporting both operational excellence and cultural integrity.
As an authorized Wiley DiSC partner, Nicholas helps leadership teams build trust and improve communication. He is known for facilitating board retreats and strategy sessions that clarify roles, foster strategic clarity, and encourage authentic collaboration. His approach empowers organizations to adapt, thrive, and create sustainable progress in rural settings.
Agri-Prime Consulting, Office, Indianola, IA 50125, United States
(620) 388-1451