Part 1 of 7
Most people believe that leadership is a title or a corner office.
Those who move up in the ranks (e.g., org chart, food chain) often believe that the same concepts that worked as a manager will work as a leader.
Leadership is often misunderstood as a position of authority or power, but it is so much more than that. Leadership is influence.
Great leaders influence, inspire, motivate, and guide their teams towards a shared vision.
However, many leaders make mistakes that can hinder their effectiveness and impact. In this document, I will explore the seven deadly mistakes every great leader avoids.
I’m also going to provide actionable tips on how to avoid each one of them.
Let’s dive in!
- Failure To Build Relationships
Building strong relationships with team members is critical to effective leadership. Leaders who fail to build relationships risk creating a culture of isolation and mistrust.
Building strong relationships requires empathy, transparency, trust, and getting out of the office. The foundational element of relationships is communication.
Many believe what we do is simply a balance between life and work, as if it were a teeter totter. Our lives and work intersect in every way possible.
Just like in relationships outside of work, understanding and engaging in a meaningful way is important in the workplace to build relationships.
What to do instead:
- Show empathy towards your team members by actively listening to their concerns and being responsive to their needs.
- Be transparent with your team members about the organization’s goals, challenges, and decision-making processes.
- Build trust over time through consistent actions and communication.
- Get out of the office and manage by walking around.
- Connect with your team members outside of formal meetings and work settings, including volunteering as a team...to be continued…