A Captain of a Massive Metal Ship was on their way across the ocean to make a Delivery to a Truck that would take the delivered goods to a final destination.
One of the Crew approached the Captain and said, "Captain, we are low on fuel! We must make a stop at the next port to refuel."
The Captain replied, "No, we do not have the time to refuel. We move ahead."
The Crewmember retorts, "But Captain!"
The Captain interrupts, "That's an Order!"
The Boat continues for another day until it runs out of Fuel in the middle of the Ocean.
The Crewmember approaches the Captain, "Captain. We have run out of Fuel, shall we call for help?"
The Captain says, "There is no time to call for Help, we are on a tight schedule. Give Oars to the men."
The Crewmember says, "But Captain, we have No Oars on this Ship! Even if we did, they would not reach the water!"
The Captain replies, "Ah! I have come up with an Innovative Solution! We shall use the Chains on the Ship and the Men shall Swim and Pull the Boat to our Destination!"
The Crewmember retorts, "But Captain, that will Never..."
The Captain interrupts, "That's an Order!"
The Men of the Ship take turns, swimming out, grasping chains that are far too heavy, attempting to move the Massive Metal Ship by means of Swimming Power.
Miraculously they make Slow Progress, but the Ship begins to run out of Supplies.
The Crewmember finds the Captain and says, "Captain, we are Low on Supplies. We must..."
To which the Captain says, "We are behind schedule now. We will get more Supplies when we arrive at our Destination."
The Crewmember retorts, "Captain, the men won't Survi..."
The Captain interrupts, "That's an Order!"
The Crew begins to become Horribly Sick, Progress Slows Further Down and the Captain begins to wonder how they could be so Behind.
Though it is Extremely Slow, the Ship Continues forth.
A few men perish, but the Captain tells the Crew that this is simply what it means to be on the Ruthless Seas.
Finally, the Massive Metal Ship makes it to the Destination.
However, the Ship is Extremely Far Behind Schedule Now, and the Delivery Truck left weeks ago.
The Crewmember approaches and says, "Captain, the Delivery Truck is no longer..."
The Captain interrupts, "I know it's gone! Thank you for stating the Obvious! Why don't you come up with a Solution?!"
To which the Crewmember says, "But Captain, I warned you..."
The Captain again interrupts, "Why is everyone so Incompetent here!"
The Crewmember says, "Perhaps we should call another Delivery..."
The Captain Interrupts, "Don't you think I've thought of that? We have no more Money to Call another Truck!"
The Crewmember remains silent at this point, after having been shut up by the Captain every time they tried to speak, no longer wishing to give their thoughts.
The Captain says, "Well since I'm the only one with Ideas... let me think... If there is no other option, we will simply continue forth as we have been! Get the men to the Chains and we will Drag this Boat to the Destination ourselves... Maybe if we sell off parts of the Ship's Hull at a Scrapyard on the way, we can pull enough together to upgrade the ship's engine to get us to the Final Destination Faster!"
The Crew all Quit, leaving the Captain alone, having completely Failed their Pursuits.
What does this story have to do with Leadership Today?
So often, this is exactly how Leaders handle situations.
Energy is what Fuels Businesses.
Whether that Energy comes from Money, Technology, Fuel, or Mg-ATP (Human Mitochondrial Energy), this is what "Moves" Businesses forward.
When an Endeavor a Leader is in Charge of begins to Lose Energy, they typically resort to Solutions that do not make sense (Pulling Chains instead of Buying Fuel).
When the Energy Problem gets worse (Running Out of Supplies, People getting Sick, and Perishing), the Situation gets worse.
Often the Best People Leave and Burnout Spreads like a Virus (Both forms of "Perishing").
Burnout is where 80% of Employees are today, and where Productivity Potential drops to 5% or Less.
Instead of solving the "Obvious" Problem of Burnout, Leaders often make suggestions like Eliminating Positions (Often still Necessary for Later Success, like Ripping the Ship's Hull Apart) and beginning to use New Technology such as AI (Upgrading the Engine), when the Major Problem is Energy.
Could a Solution like AI or Improved Systems be helpful in the Right Situations?
Absolutely!
But are these the Right Solutions in the "Current" Situation (aka, trying to get a Massive Metal Ship to Move on Land with Tired and Sick Crew)?
No.
If you do Not Fix the Energy Problems First, you as a Leader are as Hopeless as the situation in this Allegory.