Generally speaking, an organization wants to have its most experienced people in positions of leadership. However, the mere fact that you have experience doesn’t mean that you don’t have any flaws in your management style. Therefore, it is important to understand what your flaws may be and to look for ways to correct them. Here are some pitfalls to look out for.
Ineffective Communication
It’s hard to be a leader if you can’t communicate with your people. Signs of poor communication include vague answers to questions or not allowing your people to come to you when it’s convenient for them. If an individual is biased against a certain gender or those of a certain ethnic background, they may have a harder time seeking their input or taking their input seriously. Good communication means that you ask everyone for their opinions and answer their questions in a timely manner, using accurate information.
Assuming That You Always Know Best
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that only inexperienced or young people need outside help or opinions, but with the rapidly changing nature of technology, everyone needs to have an open mind and be willing to learn from others who know more. Not knowing everything is not a sign of weakness. In fact, the willingness to lean on others can help to earn their respect over the long run. This is because they will feel as if their contributions matter and that you truly value their experience and what they bring to the team.
Holding Grudges
Over time, you may develop rivalries with colleagues, senior managers and others who you may have to interact with on a regular basis. However, it is important that you don’t let your emotions get the best of you when it comes to doing business. If you truly don’t think that you can interact with a certain person, feel free to send someone else in your place to meetings or other corporate events. While it’s not the ideal way to handle adversity, it is better than shutting someone out completely or otherwise straining a professional relationship unnecessarily.
It can be tempting for those in leadership positions to believe that they don’t have anything to improve upon. Of course, the ability to learn and grow is what likely got you where you are today. Therefore, you should never assume that there isn’t someone else who can do your job and use that belief as motivation to work your hardest to maintain your position.
For help in becoming the best leader you can be, executive coaching can greatly help. Let BMOC Group help you learn skills to assist you in your journey of personal leadership growth!