Leadership mistakes can be costly

How to turn those missteps around

I’m a firm believer that mistakes have a lot to teach us, having made more than my share. For the past few decades I’ve learned an enormous amount from my missteps, and from the errors of those around me.

While I’ve embraced some of the ‘fail fast’ mentality - a business strategy that encourages trying new ideas and learning from mistakes quickly - I’ve also been stung. Some key mistakes have cost me professionally, personally and financially.

In my leadership series, “How do you show up?” I've identified 4 major leadership mistakes. Today I’m sharing the cost of those mistakes and how to move forward.

Save the date:

Friday, February 28th, 9:00am - 9:30am CT, for my free webinar: “How do you show up?” Have you signed up to attend?

Here you go :)

THIS WEEK’S INSIGHT

Leadership mistakes can be costly

You may recall four big mistakes that leaders shared and how they undermine their ability to lead well.

• You don’t listen.
• You think it’s up to you.
• You’re not clear.
• You have weak relationships.

Let’s take it one more step. Here’s how they describe the cost and how these mistakes stymied their leadership.

1. Because you don’t listen: your ideas don’t resonate. Your team may have been trying to get your attention about a shift or a new perspective and you never got the opportunity to hear them. So what you offer does not click. Your theories didn’t get the vetting from the team that may have allowed ownership.

In the words of Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth,

The downfall of most organizations is “widespread acceptance of the wrong idea”?—?misinformed, overconfident assumptions that become so familiar they go unquestioned.

2. Because you think it’s up to you: your team loses confidence. They don’t believe you have any faith in their ability to work on a project so they physically cower, their work gets sloppy, they get frustrated and challenge you to do it yourself. You’ve ignored their competence – so now they feel they have nothing to offer. Why would they step up to the plate when you believe it’s up to only you to deliver?

3. Because you’re not clear: there’s a lack of direction. Your team is afraid to move because they believe they’ll fail – in fact they believe they’re being set up to fail. When your communication is vague – their response will be vague. The team fears asking for any clarification for fear they’ll be penalized. Or that you’ll throw them under the bus.

Brene Brown says it best:

Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind, Not getting clear with a colleague about your expectations because it feels too hard, yet holding them accountable or blaming them for not delivering is unkind.

4. Because you have weak relationships: there’s no sense of loyalty. Since you’re the lone wolf leader, and rarely ask for the thoughts and opinions of those with whom you work, you lose your people. IF they continue to work for you, it’s just to get a paycheck. They aren’t seen or heard so they stop listening to you. You are alone.

THIS WEEK’S TOOL

How to turn those missteps around

Let’s say you notice that one, or maybe more, of these areas is hindering your efforts to lead in the way you want. What might you do? Go back to what isn’t working. Rather than trying to create an entirely new strategy, admit the mistake and see what happens when you flip it.

If you’re not listening: LISTEN.

If you think it’s all about you: INCLUDE YOUR TEAM.

If you’re not being clear: COMMUNICATE CLEARLY.

If you have weak relationships: BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

As your human connection shines through each of these areas, you may find yourself making fewer mistakes. And when you do slip, you’ll be able to name it immediately and move forward.

My takeaway

I’m taking an amazing course on the future of coaching, designed to help me and other leaders strengthen how we coach and work with people on every level.

The key lessons I’m learning?

• Be present.
• Check my assumptions.
• Step up my own game.
• Meet clients where they are.

I don’t get it right every time. At all. And as challenging as it is to receive feedback on what isn’t working, I recognize I don’t have to keep repeating something that doesn’t align with my clients. I have a choice.

A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure.

Dalai Lama XIV

Next week: So how do you show up as a leader?

Save the date:

Friday, February 28th, 9:00am - 9:30am CT, for my free webinar: “How do you show up?” Have you signed up to attend?

Here you go :)