How do you become a great leader? Is it by understanding what great leaders do? Perhaps, is it by trying to mimic or copy how other great leaders make decisions?
While there is significant benefit to understanding how leaders make good decisions, there is also powerful insight in how to become a great leader if you know the pitfalls and trouble spots they face. You can learn by what not to do!
Being a leader is challenging enough without having to deal with the potential negative fallout associated with the 10 common leadership mistakes listed below. Take a moment and ask yourself if you might fall prey to one or more of these mistakes. If so, identify some action steps that will help you avoid these potential pit falls in the future.
1. Making yourself scarce
Workers appreciate a visible leader - someone who takes a personal interest in the work that’s being done by taking the time to get to know those who are doing it. Make sure you always have an open door policy that is more than just talk, or a print you hang on the wall.
2. Allowing the vision to fade
Good leaders are able to keep the vision of the organization fresh and focused. The consistent presence of a well-defined vision provides motivation, enthusiasm and purpose for those responsible for carrying it out. Live your vision, don’t just talk about it.
3. Creating a moving target
Change happens, but leaders who constantly modify or change key objectives fail to maintain their team’s trust, respect and confidence. The best advice is to stick to the decision once made; only adjusting when absolutely necessary.
4. Correcting without affirming
Correction is most effective when preceded by affirmation. Employees who know their positive qualities and accomplishments are appreciated are more open to corrective feedback when it’s needed.
5. Assigning responsibility without authority
When giving someone the responsibility to produce specific results, make sure they also have the freedom and independence to make the decisions that will get the job done. If you are stuck micromanaging them, you’ll waste your time and theirs.
6. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
When it comes to achieving results, there is no substitute for leadership by example. Double standards have no place in leadership.
7. Putting square pegs in round holes
The time it takes to properly assess an employee’s strengths, knowledge and skills is time well-invested because it helps to reduce costly turnover and improve productivity and performance. Frankly, you’ll end up spending more time having to hire new people if you don’t hire correctly to the correct position from the beginning.
8. Inability to control anger
A leader who cannot bridle his anger is a leader who is feared rather than respected. And, while you may get some results out of fear, you ultimately will have to rebuild confidence at a later time. Importantly, you may also lose people, thus wasting resources in the process.
9. Focusing on “me” rather than “we”
The most effective leaders are those who are passionate about the achievement of the whole team, not just of their own accomplishments. To go a step further, Author Jim Collins suggests that effective leaders look to others when accomplishments are completed and to themselves when things fail.
10. Placing results ahead of people
Great leaders know that the best way to get the most favorable results is to make sure they favor the people responsible for them.
10 Common Leadership Mistakes - To learn more about this author, visit Todd Linaman's Website.
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Todd Linaman
(Visit Todd's Website)
As the President and Founder of Relational
Advantage, Inc., Dr. Todd E. Linaman is
committed to developing personal and
organizational potential into a higher
level of quality performance.
For fifteen years prior to launching
Relational Advantage, Inc., Dr. Linaman
gained extensive business and professional
experience serving as the Executive
Director of a multi-state network of
behavioral health clinics and the Vice
President of a national non-profit
educational media corporation. He is a
licensed psychologist, an executive and
personal coach and a respected authority
in the area of personal and professional
development.
Dr. Linaman has worked with corporate
executives, business owners, pastors,
attorneys, and other professionals in his
coaching and consulting practice. He is a
national conference and seminar speaker
and has authored numerous articles on
personal and professional development
topics. He has been featured as an expert
on national and local radio talk shows and
local television news programs.
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