How to Avoid the 3 Biggest Mistakes Leaders Don’t Need to Make
Mistakes are inevitable, but some are avoidable.
The worst mistakes are the ones you didn’t need to make.
The 3 biggest mistakes leaders don’t need to make:
#1. Certainty when you’re ignorant.
You amplify ignorance when you screw up after pretending you knew. Don’t hide ignorance. Use it as motivation to learn.
When you’re unsure, say, “We evaluated the options and sought input. We’re moving forward.” Don’t give the impression you know when you’re ignorant.
Hiding ignorance exposes arrogance. Fools know. Wisdom learns.
When you embrace ignorance, you learn. When you feign knowledge, you fail.
#2. Bravado when you’re worried.
Bravado only fools simpletons.
You look like a poser when you beat your chest during turbulence. Leadership confidence is about people, agility, and a commitment to learn.
“We can work through this together,” is better than, “I got this.”
“We will learn as we go,” is better than, “I have the answer.”
#3. Openness when you’re rigid.
You deflate energy when you ask, “What do you think?” after you made up your mind.
Seek input, but don’t let people think you’ll do what they suggest. Explain that you’re seeking options with an “S”. After the first suggestion say, “And what other possibilities come to mind?”
Conclusion:
5 things to do when you screw up:
- Lean in, not away.
- Take responsibility. Don’t blame.
- Commit to learn.
- Take corrective action.
- Demonstrate commitment to improve.
5 essential practices for all leaders:
- Humility.
- Authenticity.
- Vulnerability.
- Self-reflection.
- Courage to act.
What’s on your list of mistakes leaders don’t need to make?
Still curious:
How Humble Leadership Really Works
The Top 4 Mistakes Busy Leaders Make
I believe our book, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership, enables leaders to avoid mistakes that don’t need to be made. I invite you to purchase it.
Love this post! Dan, as always, hot hit the nail on the head.
The big mistake I see many leaders make: not doing what you said you would do. True integrity is keeping your word long after the circumstances under which you gave it have changed.
Few people trust a leader who does not keep his/her word…
Thanks, Hank. Love your insight. I wonder if sometimes good will and a desire to be helpful cause leaders to over-commit. They have good intentions but lose credibility. Better to under-promise and over-deliver than not follow through.
Not taking time to enable others that one works with is a major mistake made by leaders. also being strong enough to let others take the lead. Be a servant leader and put others first.
Thanks, Jim. So true. It’s short-sighted to unintentionally hold people back. I wonder if one reason is the leader feels more competent. And frankly, they could be. But it’s still short-sighted to do too much yourself and not enable others to take action without you.
Not taking time to think through all of the things that could go wrong and then taking steps to avoid them.
Not taking time to learn from mistakes so they don’t happen again.
Not involving the right people in the planning and decision making process.
Thanks, Paul. Being anxious to move forward can be the reason people don’t get benefit from mistakes. Some leaders are like racehorses, anxious to get out of the starting gate. But we protect gains when we learn from mistakes.