Top 5 Frustrations Faced by CEOs or Leaders

I doff my hat to every leader out there. Being a leader is not all that rosy. Let's face it; there are times when you sit back in your office and start thinking about 'why things are not working or going according to plan.'

Yes, you may have crossed the 't' and dotted the 'i' but the reality just stares right back at you.

Your board of directors may have some unrealistic expectations of you; your team members may be going off track, and your deadline to deliver results is fast approaching.

As a leader, you are expected to be in control at every moment but sometimes challenges can quickly pile up and lead to frustration. Most challenges you face as a leader are not unique to just your business. I face them leading my team and running a fast-paced organization where that’s expected to run 24/7. It's all part of the journey and what's most important is how you react to them.

In today's newsletter, I will be sharing with you my top 5 Frustrations as CEO and a Leader. The purpose of sharing this is not just to highlight the problems we face daily as leaders but to show you how you can turn them into growth opportunities.

1. Communication: It can be frustrating seeing the damage poor communication causes to a team. After clearly explaining, outlining, and highlighting everything, somehow things are going left, far from what you expected. Your team just doesn't seem to be moving in the same direction with you or with each other. Often, the cause of this communication gap is wrong assumptions. Communication is not complete until the receiver understands and decodes the message. Leaders tend to assume that what they communicate is understood by everyone. But the reality of this is that people interpret things differently due to several reasons such as personal bias, hearsay, their roles, etc. To prevent this, be intentional about every information you communicate. Clarify and provide a feedback channel where you can ask follow-up questions to confirm if they truly understood your message.

2. Underperformance: Hmmmm, let me breathe out through my keyboard as I type because this is a common headache for CEOs, business owners, business executives, and anyone managing a team. Seeing your team falling short of expectations or not delivering results despite the resources invested can be exasperating. Your team may be competent, but sometimes you need to understand that underperformance can be caused by other factors such as demotivation or personal issues. It's important to isolate the root cause of the problem and address it. Then you can go further to provide the right support for your team.

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3. Resistance to Change: Change may be the only constant in life but that doesn't mean people like it. Resistance is a normal human reaction to change. People feel comfortable doing things the way they know; familiarity gives a sense of security, and when it's been threatened, they tend to push back.

One way I discovered to overcome this challenge is to involve your team in a change process early enough. Make them understand the importance and reason behind this change. Make them excited about the change that is coming and equip them with everything they need to adapt easily. The excitement and enthusiasm you create make it easier to embrace a change initiative.

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4. Unrealistic Expectations: As a leader, it is important to know that you can't always please everyone. There are times in leadership you will experience a conflict of interest from stakeholders, the board of directors, shareholders, senior management team and staff. Sometimes, what they see and calculate is the result and what they stand to gain, but you are analysing from a broader angle, factoring in the obstacles along the way. Regardless of this, you are still expected to do the impossible. Leadership can be demanding. However, you need to set clear boundaries. Be true to your values and personal principles. Be an optimist and a realist. Manage and, if possible, renegotiate expectations. If you are not cautious, the pressure from unrealistic expectations can lead to burnout.

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5.? Interpersonal Conflicts: Sometimes, people don't just get along due to their personality differences, ego, mindset, leadership styles, etc. Interpersonal conflicts within your senior management team, managers or leaders can cause catastrophe within your team if not properly addressed. The moment you notice this, do not let this issue linger as it may lead to a toxic working environment for the staff they manage and everyone else around them. As the famous African proverb says, “When elephants fights, the grass get trampled”. Otherwise, once staff perceive that one of your senior managers is not in alignment with the overall goal or vision, they use it to their advantage. This will birth personal fiefdoms and division which may morph into something much worse. To overcome this challenge, create a culture that encourages having tough or difficult conversations and different opinions on issues. Different perspectives on issues should be seen as a strength, not a weakness. Nip the issue in the bud by listening to both parties objectively, and more importantly, avoid taking sides. At all times, you and your leadership team must sing from the same hymn book.

As the African proverb says ‘“He who fears the sun will not become chief.” Courageous leaders embrace the sun i.e., challenges. Leadership involves facing challenges and these frustrations head-on. Every challenge you face is an opportunity in disguise. See it as your stepping stone for growth. As you overcome, you climb higher.

These are my top 5 frustrations, tell me about yours. What other frustrations do you face as a leader? Drop your comments, I'd love to know.

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Thanks for reading!

Victoria Ajayi