Successful leaders need not be the smartest people around
Have you heard about the “two rules” that apply to every employee? Here it goes:
Rule 1: Your boss is always right.
Rule 2: Rule number 1 always applies -even when your boss is wrong.
However, in practical terms, the boss is not always right. And there is nothing to be ashamed about when one is wrong. Unfortunately, Some people feel they need to be right at all times and are unwilling to accept superior ideas from their subordinates.
Now, that is wrong.
I have seen many thriving companies decline because the boss will not give in to superior ideas from others. Such leaders seem to harbor the erroneous belief that they have a monopoly on knowledge. Rather than seeing issues from a broader perspective, they resent constructive criticism and take it personally.
One of the essential skills in leadership is the ability to admit that you do not have all the answers. A leader may not have all the answers but can delegate assignments to those who will find the right answer. It is not uncommon for good leaders to seek advice and go along with the best idea.
Although you may feel smart when you claim to have the answer, you display maturity by seeking counsel when the need arises. Leaders that are open to taking advice from others are more approachable and turms out to be excellent team builders. Such a leader will find it easy to build an engaging and productive team because employees can share feedback and ideas without hesitation. An employee that feels valued and appreciated will be inspired to perform better.
A boss who always feels the need to be right will gather employees that are either frustrated or docile. The staff in a workplace that embraces micromonangement remain stagnant, they cannot grow. Micromanagement strategy leads to a work environment full of stress and anxiety, and the best workforce in such an environment are forced to leave.
Technology is advancing, the business landscape is changing faster than ever. That is why leaders need to employ smart people that have initiatives, not people who are only good at carrying out instructions. Leaders need to leverage the diversified skill and expertise of all the workforce at their disposal to have an edge among competitors.
The successful leader is not the smartest in the company, but the one that knows how to harness the diversified skill and experience of other smart people in the company. A wise leader tries to gather smart people and motivates them to be their best. After all, the leader takes most of the credit at the end of the day.
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