10 things to NOT do as a leader ⛔️
Leadership 'To Not Do' List
I know*|IF:FNAME|* .*|ELSE:|*.*|END:IF|* It's hard to balance being an awesome leader along with everything else we need to do. And sometimes without realising it we'll end up falling into traps and shortcuts that undermine not just our role as a leader, but the trust we need to build in our teams to get the outcomes we need.
Here are 10 of the biggest traps I see and hear leaders regularly fall into.
1 Not listening
It's easy to think that as a leader we need to have all the answers or that we know best. Which can lead us to jump to conclusions, make assumptions and generally not listen to others.
Avoid it: Pause. In your next meeting stop and truely listen to the other person/people. Focus not on your response, but what they are saying. In particular, listen for the unsaid - what question could you ask next rather than making a statement?
Also, watch this video.
2 Having a mindset that trust should be earned
This is a controversial one. Starting from a baseline of extending trust to others is a much preferable strategy as you avoid the inefficiencies that come from believing that others need to earn your trust. There is a subtle, but tangible, difference.
Think about a time that you felt someone trusted you. Did it mean you worked more positively, effectively and efficiently? Compare this with a time that you felt that someone didn't trust you.
This is especially obvious in cases where micromanagement is a symptom of the low trust - nobody wins when this happens.
Stephen M R Covey talks about 'smart trust' - the mindset of extending trust, rather than it needing to be earned, unless you have good reason (ie actual evidence of untrustworthiness) not to.
Avoid it: Ask yourself what you would do differently if you did trust that person. Do that.
3 Not getting to know your team as humans
We all want to be seen and heard as people, not as task-completers but as individuals who have strengths, aspirations, challenges and back-stories.
Understanding your team as people will pay dividends as you build the trust that motivates them to succeed as an individual whilst contributing to the team/organisational goals.
Avoid it: Take your team for lunch / coffee. Talk about hobbies, pets, family, holidays, favourite foods and pet-hates. Oh and read this.
4 Not saying thank you
Having an attitude of gratitude is critical as a leader. Your team want to be recognised for their contribution but so often we forget the simplest of Ps and Qs amongst our to dos.
Avoid it: Read this and say thank you better.
5 Not inviting different opinions / concerns
We've all been in meetings where most people are redundant because the leader has either made up their mind already or will make all the decisions for others to execute.
We spend a lot of effort thinking about and making our teams more diverse, but are we maximising the potential of that diversity? Are you leveraging the strengths and knowledge that exists in your team to get to better outcomes on your projects?
[Note; if you haven't got to know your team (see point 3) then do this first to know what diversities to be pulling upon].
I often run sessions where, using a simple ice breaker, the team know each other better, and at a deeper level, than they did before they walked in the room.
Avoid it: In your next meeting, rather than jump in to answer all the questions, wait. See who else jumps in first. If nobody does (because they're used to you filling the silence), ask someone else what they would do / suggest for that situation or what challenges they foresee.
Look out for next week's newsletter for items 6 - 10 on the leader 'to not do' list.
WAIT! Want 10 things you should do?
From 24 September - 5 October I'm running a 10 day leadership challenge. Each day you'll receive a tiny micro-challenge to try with your team; a question, an activity or something to ponder.
We are a product of our habits and this 10 day challenge is to kick-start or refresh your habit of leadership - the little actions you take everyday which add up to your style as a leader.
Are you up for the 10 day leadership challenge?
"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."
Jim Rohn
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Want to see your management or leadership challenge addressed with helpful advice and resources? Email me at steph@stephclarke.com and let me know what topics you'd like me to include in future newsletters.
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