By Matthew Mathison, CEO MBL Partners & author of Leadership Orbit
As someone who has built, led, and advised numerous companies worth billions of dollars, I’ve learned firsthand that traditional power structures – particularly boards of directors – often fail to provide the support and decisive action that leaders need. Whether through indecision, self-preservation, or misaligned incentives, these failures can feel deeply personal and potentially catastrophic for your business.
But here’s the truth: while disappointment from above is virtually inevitable, it doesn’t have to derail your leadership trajectory or your company’s success. Here are seven proven strategies I’ve developed through years of navigating these challenges:
1. Own the Problem, Even When It’s Not Yours
During a significant merger I led, we uncovered serious historical issues that predated our involvement. Instead of deflecting or distancing myself, I stepped up in front of our board and took full ownership of the solution. This meant committing to a multi-year fix, having difficult conversations with investors, and making tough personnel decisions. The key is understanding that ownership isn’t about accepting blame – it’s about seizing the power to create change. By taking ownership, you maintain agency and momentum instead of getting mired in finger-pointing or politics. Remember: leadership isn’t about who created the problem; it’s about who’s willing to solve it.
2. Focus on Operational Excellence
Your strongest defense against institutional failure is building sustainable operations that generate consistent cash flow. When you’re creating real value through your core business, you’re less dependent on external validation or support. Make operational excellence your north star. This means developing clear metrics for operational success and focusing on the fundamentals rather than chasing shiny objects. When your operations are solid, you have options even when traditional support structures falter.
3. Build Distributed Leadership Networks
Don’t rely solely on formal power structures. Create informal networks of trusted advisors, mentors, and partners who can provide guidance and support when traditional channels fail. The broader and deeper your leadership network, the more resilient you become. Maintaining relationships across industries and sectors, creating informal advisory boards and developing mentor relationships at multiple levels will help build connections with operational experts that provide alternative perspectives. These resources will provide support, help you stay grounded and maintain perspective during challenging times.
4. Maintain Unwavering Transparency
In one of my most challenging leadership experiences, transparency became our most powerful tool. When facing serious allegations and board inaction, we chose radical transparency about both our challenges and our solutions. Communicating opening, sharing both good and bad news quickly and making your decision-making process visible are all actionable strategies to building trust. Being honest about uncertainties and risks builds trust and creates alternative channels of support when traditional ones break down.
5. Stay Solution-Focused
When faced with board inaction during a company crisis, I discovered that success comes from developing multiple paths forward rather than dwelling on institutional paralysis. The secret is channeling what could be negative emotional energy into productive problem-solving. This means creating alternative strategies for every possible scenario while maintaining unwavering forward momentum, even in the face of uncertainty. Instead of allowing frustration to drain your effectiveness, convert it into fuel for action. The focus should always remain on what can be done rather than what can’t. I’ve found that this solution-focused mindset not only helps navigate immediate challenges but also builds long-term resilience. It’s about refusing to let institutional inaction become your personal roadblock and instead using it as a catalyst to explore new possibilities and pathways.
6. Preserve Your Leadership Orbit
Your leadership orbit – that state of sustained positive energy and forward momentum – must be maintained independently of external circumstances. This means developing and maintaining consistent daily habits that persist regardless of chaos around you. Even during the most challenging times, keep your long-term vision in sharp focus while continuing to invest in your personal growth and development. Stay deeply connected to your core purpose and values, using them as your north star when traditional support structures falter. I’ve learned that maintaining this positive energy isn’t just about personal resilience – it becomes a powerful attractor for new opportunities and support. Your orbit becomes a beacon that draws in resources, talent, and possibilities, often from unexpected sources.
7. Use Setbacks as Catalysts
Every institutional failure presents a unique opportunity for innovation and growth. When traditional structures fail, they often create space for building something better, stronger, and more resilient. The key is approaching these moments with an analytical mindset, carefully examining what isn’t working in current systems while identifying opportunities for innovative solutions. These challenges become your leadership laboratory, strengthening your capabilities and allowing you to build more resilient structures and processes. Through each setback, focus on emerging stronger and better equipped for future challenges. This transformative approach turns what could be devastating setbacks into powerful catalysts for positive change and organizational evolution.
The Hard Truth and the Hope
Here’s what I’ve learned: expecting traditional power structures to consistently support and empower leadership is a recipe for disappointment. But this reality contains a hidden opportunity. When you stop relying on institutional support and instead focus on building sustainable value, developing strong networks, and maintaining your leadership orbit, you become truly unstoppable.
The most effective leaders aren’t those who never face institutional failure – they’re the ones who’ve learned to thrive despite it. They understand that true leadership power comes from within and is sustained through consistent action, not external validation.
Remember: Your oxygen is your responsibility. While you can’t control how boards and traditional power structures will act, you can absolutely control your response. Choose to take ownership. Choose to keep building. Choose to maintain your positive energy and forward momentum.
In my experience, leaders who embrace these strategies don’t just survive institutional failure – they emerge stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to create lasting positive impact. The key is to see these challenges not as roadblocks but as opportunities to demonstrate and strengthen your leadership capabilities.
The future belongs to leaders who can navigate this reality while maintaining their optimism and effectiveness. Will it be challenging? Absolutely. But that’s precisely what makes it worth doing. Your leadership journey isn’t defined by how others support you, but by how you respond when that support fails.
So stay in orbit. Keep building. And remember that your greatest leadership moments often come not from institutional support, but from how you rise above its absence.
About the Author: Matthew Mathison is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of MBL Partners with over 25 years of experience transforming businesses globally. His new book Leadership Orbit reveals how to achieve sustainable success through authentic leadership.