4 Common Leadership Mistakes

Have you ever awakened to a feeling of dread at the thought of going to work? Have you ever had the challenge of working for leadership that proved to be ineffective, smothering, incompetent, or lazy? Or perhaps you were thrown into a leadership role with very little training and made some significant mistakes yourself.

Maybe you’ve dreamed of the day you would be in a leadership role with the ability to use all the negative experiences you’ve endured to create a positive, rewarding, encouraging environment for your staff instead. Or perhaps you have worked with an excellent leadership team and look forward to emulating their successes. Either way, there is a tremendous amount of wisdom and insight that can be gained from previous leadership experiences, both good and bad, if we take the time to learn from them and implement what we have learned. Today, let’s look at four important leadership mistakes to avoid as we build our team and strive for success.

LACKING HUMILITY

The truth is, we are all human. We are all gifted with strengths in some areas, and we struggle in others. One of the most important qualities of a good leader is their ability to recognize their areas of weakness and be open to the ideas and questions from their team. Collectively there is so much more to be gained by collaborating with your team and creating an environment where openness and honesty are valued. It is also much easier to respect and show loyalty to someone who can recognize that they don’t have all the answers.

·       Take some time to evaluate the areas where you excel and the areas where you struggle.

·       Do you have someone on your team who can provide balance where you struggle?

·       When was the last time you sought out the ideas and concerns from your team?

A successful leader recognizes that they are stronger when they rely on the strengths of those around them. Embrace new ideas and be open to the questions or concerns others may share. You’re human. You can’t do it all. And that’s ok.

LACKING VISION

One of the most difficult situations to find yourself in is working for a leader that has no vision for growth or development. Employees who find themselves growing stagnant in their skills, their mission, or their level of success are much more likely to move on to another place of employment where growth and development are valued. According to Bob Nelson, author of 1001 Ways to Engage Employees, learning and development are among the top factors when considering how to keep employees engaged.

·       When was the last time you evaluated the strength of your team?

·       What areas lack training or development?

·       What opportunities do you have for classroom instruction, hands on training, or e-learning courses?

·       How can you invest in your team this year, this month, or this week?

AVOIDING CONFLICT

This is an area that can be very difficult for most leaders. It can be challenging to determine which situations require a direct conversation and which situations can be chalked up to a lack of knowledge or a training opportunity. Both situations must be addressed. However, training conversations generally don’t offer the same potential for conflict. When dealing with a conversation that is likely to elicit conflict, it is tempting to take the easier route of avoidance, but doing so can create an environment of resentment as the team members who consistently work hard and follow the rules observe those who don’t “getting away with it.”

·       Are you tempted to avoid conflict? If so, the process of change can seem overwhelming. Start small.

·       What is one difficult conversation you can tackle this week?

NOT BONDING WITH YOUR TEAM

This one can be difficult if you are working with individuals much different than yourself. However, the importance of this point can be more clearly understood when you consider that people work for people. What does that mean? It means that people almost always choose to stay or leave a job because of the direct supervisor they work with regularly. We all want to feel valued, cared for, and important. If you take the time to understand and know your team, you automatically have the upper hand over other businesses and employers.

Wages and benefits only go so far. If a person has to work in a toxic environment day in and day out, they are far less likely to remain in that job despite excellent pay and benefits. On the other hand, I have personally observed many individuals over the years who will make do with less compensation or mediocre benefits because the leadership team invests in them, cares about their personal life, and genuinely seeks to understand them.

·       How well do you know your team?

·       How approachable are you?

·       How do you handle personal issues that arise with your team? Taking some time to evaluate your success in this area will set you up for the opportunity to strengthen your team in ways that go beyond simple training techniques.

Whether you have been in a leadership role for years or are new to the experience, these tips will help you succeed if you are willing to view them as growing opportunities. For more resources, check out some of our other blog posts on leadership and conflict, or check out our training course “The Excellent Leader.” Remember, this isn’t a one and done evaluation. As seasons of life change for you and your team, you will benefit the most by checking in with yourself and your progress in each of these areas. You were put in this role for a reason. Why not make the most of it?