Ep #68: 7 Most Common Mistakes Leaders Make (& What To Do Instead) 

Today, we delve into the most common mistakes I see leaders making and, more importantly, what you can do instead.

These mistakes often act as barriers for leaders, hindering their progress and preventing them from achieving the impact they desire.

By recognising these mistakes and implementing the suggested solutions, leaders can enhance their effectiveness and drive better results in their teams and organisations.

Using Your Self-Awareness to Your Advantage: Self-awareness is a crucial quality of a good leader, but it can become a hindrance when leaders focus solely on improving their weaknesses. Leaders should focus on their strengths and assemble a team that covers their weaknesses so everyone can support each other and flourish in the areas where they excel.

Knowing Your Number One Priority: Leaders often fall into the trap of not identifying their number one priority, and without a clear focus, progress becomes scattered. Leaders need to determine the most critical goal and communicate it effectively to their team. This way, everyone can align their efforts and work towards a shared objective, ultimately driving greater success.

The Art of Clear Articulation: Communication is one of the most challenging aspects of leadership. It can be really difficult to simplify complex strategies and ideas so that everyone can understand them. However, boiling down the message to its simplest form helps ensure that everyone comprehends the objective and can contribute effectively.

Leading with Humility: Leaders who rely solely on their charisma to rally their teams may limit their impact. By removing the ego and shining the spotlight on the collective cause, leaders can inspire teams to work together towards shared goals, fostering a more impactful environment.

Making Tough Calls: Leadership often involves making difficult decisions, and many leaders resist taking action due to the discomfort associated with these tough calls. However, true leaders choose to confront and resolve challenging situations to produce the best outcomes for their teams and organisations.

Creating Psychological Safety: One of our key responsibilities as leaders is to create a psychologically safe workspace. Without an environment that encourages communication, team members may be afraid to take risks, challenge ideas, or offer input, and work will suffer. A culture of psychological safety allows people to thrive and contributes to overall team success.

Applying Knowledge: Leaders are often avid learners, constantly consuming books, podcasts, and articles. However, acquiring knowledge without applying it can render it meaningless. Leaders must ensure that they apply the concepts and ideas they acquire in order to maximise their growth and the impact they have on their teams and organisations.

As leaders, we must continuously evaluate our actions and behaviours to identify areas for improvement. By recognising and rectifying these seven common mistakes, leaders can enhance their effectiveness, drive better results, and create a positive and impactful environment for their teams.

Until next time, lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact!