The 3 Secret Blunders Leaders Make
The most damaging blunders leaders make are the ones they ignore.
A blunder you DON’T notice leads to a dead-end.
The 3 secret blunders leaders make:
#1. Leaving your best self at home:
The draining blunders leaders make include pretending you’re someone you aren’t.
The bigger the gap between your home-self and your work-self, the more drudgery you experience.
How to bring your best self to work:
Describe yourself at home. What are you like when you’re doing life with friends and family? What are you like when you’re having fun?
Describe yourself at work. What are you like when you’re working to get something done or solving problems? What are you like when you interact with team members?
How can you bring more of your home-self to work?
“You know far less about yourself than you feel you know.” Daniel Kahneman
#2. Getting lost in the weeds:
Lousy leaders keep their heads down. Successful leaders keep one eye on the horizon.
You’re lost in the weeds when:
- Every day is a grind.
- Energy is consistently drained.
- Frustration is your first response to everything.
- Purpose is a fantasy.
- Expectations are blurry.
- Progress is undefined.
- Direction shifts every hour.
5 ways to see the horizon:
- Define progress.
- Set a near-term goal.
- Describe your fears. Ask, “What’s the bravest thing I can do?”
- Ask yourself why you do what you do.
- Explore your aspirations with someone who doesn’t try to fix you.
#3. Thinking you know when you don’t:
You make up your mind quickly and feel like you know something. The act of deciding doesn’t increase your IQ.
You’re just as dumb after a decision as you are before.
- Search the unknown. “What am I missing?”
- Create alternatives. “What else might we try?”
- Seek suggestions. “What do you suggest?”
- Test assumption. “What do we assume is true?”
What can you add to the list of blunders leaders make?
What are some best practices for overcoming blunders leaders make?
Still curious:
The Top 4 Mistakes Busy Leaders Make
Four Mistakes Leaders Keep Making
Pause and ask, What do we want?
Always good to get clear on what you want.
I especially liked #3. I have worked for a few folks who seemed to think that making a decision did, in fact, increase their IQ.
The flip side is that you aren’t any less smart after making a decision, either. So focus on the decision-making process itself. Gather information so that you and your team are as smart as you can be before making the decision. While, of course, avoiding analysis paralysis.
i like the comparison between home-self and work-self.