By Jay Manno
Done right, leadership is difficult. It brings great rewards but at great risk. You have to put yourself on the line—so when you do, you want the best possible odds of success.
In some situations, though, failure is all but guaranteed. Here are five of the most common. Get to know them so you can steer far clear.
- When there is no trust. Leadership is about credibility and reliability; to be an effective leader, your followers must have trust in you. That’s why it’s critical to always take responsibility for your actions. Make sure your people feel guided and supported in their work and show they can trust your leadership.
- When there is no character. Leaders build excellence—helping their team become all they can. To reach that level of excellence requires leadership that is grounded in character. Excellence starts with leaders of strong character who model doing what is right, not what is easy.
- When there is no communication. No one ever became a great leader without first becoming a great communicator. Successful leaders connect with people on an emotional level every time they speak. Their words build relationships, teach, and inspire others. Great communication also means listening well and treating your team with candor and honesty.
- When there is no respect. You can’t lead anyone who doesn’t respect you and it’s hard to lead those you don’t also respect. Respect must be first given before its earned. That means thinking about every small thing you do as a leader and how it is perceived. Leaders who know how to give the utmost respect will receive respect in the form of loyalty and performance.
- When there is no ability. To be successful requires tactical and technical proficiency. In any organization it is the leader’s capabilities and performance that set the tone for the team’s engagement. Leadership is empty without an understanding of the work at hand, and the best leaders work constantly to improve their expertise.
How is your own leadership looking? Are you doing what it takes to propel it forward?
Lead from within: Decide what kind of leader you going to be—the kind who is content to think of themselves as the best, or the one of the few greats whose leadership achieves the highest levels.
Jay Manno is vice president, new market development, with Southland Printing.