5 Most Common Leadership Mistakes

It is human to err, but when leaders make a mistake, it costs them respect. Leaders are expected to be an inspiration and role model for their followers. Being a leader is tough as they carry a massive responsibility on their shoulders. It can be intimidating at times when you an inexperienced one. Most leaders reflect different styles of leadership. There is no scale to measure which one is better over others. It all depends on the person and organization structure. However, there are some common mistakes which most leaders make, which can put them in an awkward position.

You can be a maximize your potential as a leader by avoiding these mistakes. All you need is a good intention and a little bit of practice.

5 most Common leadership Mistakes:

  1. Not setting clear goals:
    It’s the leader’s responsibility to establish a clear goal and vision for his/her subordinates to follow. It not only gives them a direction and purpose but also ensures that they work cohesively to reach the organizational goals. The goal can be long-term institutional goals or short-term goal for a campaign. Irrespective of the scale of your goals, they are imperative to set a tone for your entire team. Failing to do so, will make them work aimlessly with no proper purpose or plan.
  2. Failing to delegate:
    These are the most common mistake among new leaders. Young leaders are reluctant to give responsibilities to their team due to a lack of trust in their abilities. However, a leader must build an efficient team. The team that you create should be capable of handling tasks when you are away. However, you still feel you are resistant to delegate jobs, take an in-depth look at yourself. Ask yourself if you are holding onto the task due to the fear of losing control. If it is true, then you can rest assured that you will not be a successful leader. Your team will make mistakes but don’t micromanage them and make things complicated. Be their guide and mentor and train them to avoid such errors in the future. You will learn more about it naturally when you spend a long time in a leadership position.
  3. Resisting from giving real feedbacks:
    People expect their leaders to provide feedback and support. It is one of the primary roles of the leader to communicate his/her opinion with the subordinates. Providing feedback goes a long way, as it nips the problems in the bud.Many bosses are reluctant to provide negative feedbacks as they fear it will create resentment with the team members. However, if you can positively convey your opinion, then it becomes a motivational factor. Be sure to follow up with the particular employee and acknowledge their views as well.Remember!

    “Big people don’t make people feel small.”

    – Robin Sharma

  1. Resisting change:
    Change is necessary in the ever-changing world. All the organizations must go through change at some point in time. The critical skill of a leader is to anticipate that change and implement them smoothly. If companies don’t change in time, they are bound to fail over a period of time. Kodak once dominated the world market for consumer camera and film market for years. But they rebuffed the development of digital camera and today they are entirely out of business.Adapting to change is not easy for employees. So, it the responsibility of the leader to help them to carry out change or put your organization and employees in peril.

    “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
    – John C. Maxwell

  2. Falling for quick fixes:
    Whatever the problems may be, there are always smart solutions for all. However, quick fixes rarely work. Any leader who overlook the lasting solutions just because they take time to develop, often end up paying heavily. Employees learn from their bosses. Thus, the habit of relying on quick fixes can be disasters if it becomes the culture of the organization.

The best leaders are those who create a positive environment. When you invest in developing leadership qualities, it impacts your entire organization.

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

– Jack Welch