by Stephanie Haywood

​Photo by Freepik

In today's complex and competitive business environment, understanding the pitfalls that can derail even the most promising leaders is of paramount importance. Both new and seasoned leaders can benefit from a clear roadmap to avoid common mistakes that frequently stymie growth and effectiveness. This article, presented by Williams Education Consulting, explores significant areas where leaders often falter, emphasizing the necessity of self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience.
 
The Pitfall of Uncoachability
 
One of the most limiting behaviors a leader can exhibit is a reluctance or refusal to accept constructive criticism. The inability to listen and adapt can result in a stagnant career trajectory. This is because leadership is a journey, not a destination, and continual learning is its cornerstone. Openness to feedback from peers, mentors, and team members can reveal new perspectives and drive personal and professional growth.
 
Inadequate Business Research
 
Another significant barrier to leadership success is an insufficient grasp of the marketplace, competitors, and even the intricacies of one's own organization. The consequences of inadequate research can be far-reaching, from strategic missteps to uncompetitive products and lackluster marketing initiatives. One effective way to develop and possess strong business acumen is by earning a business degree, which covers essential know-how such as communication, marketing, accounting, and financial management. With the flexibility offered by online courses, acquiring this comprehensive knowledge at your own pace has never been more accessible.
 
Unnecessary Micromanagement

Micromanagement, at its core, signifies a lack of trust and hampers the organic growth of teams and individuals. When business leaders excessively oversee every detail and dictate each step, they inadvertently send a message that they do not have confidence in their team's abilities. This not only diminishes employee morale and creativity but also limits opportunities for team members to develop critical problem-solving skills. Furthermore, by investing time in minutiae, leaders divert their focus from more strategic matters that require their attention, effectively bottlenecking decisions and processes.
 
Lack of Emotional Intelligence
 
Many leaders underestimate the importance of emotional intelligence, or EQ, in effective leadership. Leaders who fail to develop their emotional intelligence may find it challenging to form robust relationships within their teams and may be insensitive to the emotional climate around them. This can lead to decreased morale and productivity. Fostering emotional intelligence requires self-reflection, active listening, and a commitment to understanding not just what team members do, but also why they do it.
 
The Peril of Limited Commitment
 
A leader's level of commitment directly correlates with their ability to inspire and move a team forward. A lukewarm commitment will become palpable to team members and can undermine even the most well-planned initiatives. True leadership requires a full and sustained commitment to the organization's goals, a clear vision for its future, and a strong desire to achieve success. A highly committed leader acts as the glue that holds a team together, driving it toward a shared objective.
 
The Challenge of Temperament
 
Last but certainly not least, a leader's temperament must align with organizational culture and values for leadership to be truly effective. A mismatch in this area can lead to internal strife, a breakdown in teamwork, and a loss of credibility. A leader's temperament should not only align with organizational culture but should also serve to reinforce it, creating a stable environment where employees feel valued, understood, and motivated to perform at their best.
 
Leadership in the business realm is a complex interplay of skills, traits, and behaviors, each of which can either bolster success or act as a roadblock. Recognizing and proactively addressing these common pitfalls is essential for any leader aiming for long-term success and effectiveness. By maintaining a learning mindset, conducting robust business research, honing emotional intelligence, demonstrating unwavering commitment, and aligning one's temperament with organizational culture, leaders can navigate the complexities of the business landscape more effectively. Implementing these strategies will pave the way for a rewarding leadership career, rich in growth, impact, and achievement.
 
 
If your leadership skills are lacking or could use some polish, connect with Williams Education Consulting today to find out more about our leadership and entrepreneur coaching packages. 

Leadership is a complex job description.  There are varying definitions for leadership in research, yet every so often, leaders come along that defy the current definitions and add more dynamics to the accepted notions of leadership.  Leaders find themselves defined by their success or failures.  Success can bring life-long accolades while failures can end careers.  There are many perspectives about what makes a good leader and a general idea about what makes a bad leader. Fortunately for bad leaders, there are strategies that they can use to become better leaders.

Characteristics of a Good Leader

In order to know what makes a good leader, it is helpful to understand what the leadership job description is.   While many job descriptions refer to leadership abilities or leadership qualities, those are rarely defined.  Mike Myatt defines leadership as:

The professed desire and commitment to serve others by subordinating personal interests to the needs of those being led through effectively demonstrating the character, experience, humility, wisdom and discernment necessary to create the trust [&] influence to cause the right things, to happen for the right reasons, at the right times (2012).

In light of that definition, Myatt also goes on to state, “there is no perfect leader; only the right leader for a given situation (2012).  However, most researchers and writers agree on similar qualities that good leaders possess. 

• Good leaders are courageous.  They confront reality, actively seek feedback, and have the difficult conversations.  They encourage push back, take action, and lead change. 
• Good leaders communicate openly and frequently, do not hesitate to make decisions, freely give credit to others and hold people accountable. 
• Good leaders understand the importance of organization culture, building and maintaining relationships, and effective communication. Effective communication includes communicating expectations and asking questions. 
• Good leaders mold an organizational culture to make people feel safe to speak up and generate positive energy.  Relationships are solidified by continuous feedback and recognition for performance.  
• Good leaders know the difference between managing and leading.  Managers have employees, react to change, have all the good ideas, direct groups, try to be heroes, take credit, and exercise power over people.  Leaders win followers, create change, implement good ideas, persuade others, create teams, make heroes of everyone around them, take responsibility, and develop power within people.

Characteristics of a Bad Leader
       
Just as there are good leaders, conversely, there are bad ones.  Bad leaders are leaders who have failed or leaders who have succeeded but their methods were questionable.  Failure is viewed in a variety of ways depending on the various industries, organizations, and results; however, there have been many prominent leadership failures over time.  Most failed leaders have characteristics in common.  These characteristics include feeling invincible, being paralyzed by fear, failing to grow, not being passionate, failing to dream, feeling entitled, and having a sense of victimization.  On the other hand, other leaders have failed by gaining success at the expense of others.  These leaders may have done things that are illegal, made decisions that were unethical, utilized unsound methodology, or settled for strategies that were not innovative.

How to Become a Better Leader
           
There is hope for leaders who do not start off great.  Fortunately, there are strategies that they can implement to improve their performance as leaders.  This includes:

• improving communication effectiveness
• sharing expertise 
• encouraging others to do more and to be better
• developing a broader perspective for their organization
• setting an example for employees or followers
• championing their team’s new ideas
• recognizing when change is needed
• improving their ability to inspire and motivate others
• encouraging cooperation among team members 
• demonstrating humility and willingness to change or adapt

Leaders should build on the success of one change to propel into the next one and allow space and opportunity for good things to happen.  Leaders who are growing must understanding that good leadership is often about the intangibles in the leader’s personality which can diminish the effects of a perceived failure.  For example, Ernest Shackleton, an explorer, had an apparent failure when his ship sank during an expedition to the Antarctic.  However, his failure turned to success because he was able to get each of his men home safely after surviving in the Antarctic for two years.  Crewmembers cite Shackleton’s leadership as the reason they were able to survive.  Despite failure, leaders have the ability to get better and to experience success.      

Would you like to improve your leadership skills?  Schedule a free consultation today!