The Danger When a Leader is Always Right
Prashant Rao
Chief Business Operations | Certified Independent Director for Board Governance
Loved this article by David Dye (linkedin.com/in/davidmdye) on LetsGrowLeaders.com
Below is an excerpt that'll be helpful to Leaders.
The Antidote to Being Right
As a leader, your goal is to achieve results. Maybe you want to increase revenue, grow your team’s capacity, or change the world.
It’s vital that you keep those goals in front of you and regularly ask yourself what it is you really want. Asking what you really want is the antidote to always being right.
Many new leaders (and more than a few experienced leaders!) get stuck because they cannot see past their own “rightness” and do the things that will help them be effective and achieve results.
Here are a few examples:
- “Why should I have to tell them again? I said it once.”
- Yes, you did – three months ago. People have many priorities competing for their attention and important items often need multiple repetitions in multiple forums.
- “Why should I encourage/thank them? They’re just doing their job.”
- Yes, they are. Yet people are more engaged when they feel appreciated and are seen as a human being and not just a cog in a machine.
- “Why should I hear opposing viewpoints? I’m an expert in this subject and I’ve looked at all the options.”
- Yes, you are and I’m sure you did a thorough analysis, but if you want to make the best decision and have your team to be committed to the idea, their voices need to be heard. Besides, you might be surprised by someone else’s perspective.
Your Turn
It takes courage and humility to look honestly at what you’re doing and ruthlessly assess whether or not it’s working. And it’s something the best leaders do regularly.
If you want to achieve results and have more influence, look for places where you’ve clung to being “right.” Then let it go…and choose to be effective.