Pitfalls of Leadership

What could be  a pitfall of leadership? you ask. You’re the one at the top, the big dog! You’re the one with the power…Right? Wrong! Leadership is not about welding power like a braided whip in your hand. Successfully slashing the hopes and dreams of any peons that dare to question your authority. Leadership is actually about cooperation, communication, and partnership. You have been given the opportunity to guide and direct others in a way that can help your organization and your staff reach new heights. Success is not built on the backs of others but it is built on a foundation of trust and reciprocity.A situation that offers incentives to all and also requires hard work from all.

Hacknot’s list of pitfalls of leadership.

1 Assuming the team serves you
2 Isolating yourself from the team
3: Employing hokey motivation techniques
4 Not providing technical direction and context
5 Fulfilling your own needs via the team
6: Focusing on your individual contribution
7 Trying to be technically omniscient
8 Failing to delegate effectively
9 Being ignorant of your own shortcomings
10 Failing to represent the best interests of your team
11 Failing to anticipate.
12 Repeat mistakes others have already made
13 Using the project to pursue your own technical interests
14 Not maintaining technical involvement
15 Playing the game rather than focusing on the target
16 Avoiding conflict
17 Putting the project before the people
18 Expecting everyone to think and act like you
19: Failing to demonstrate compassion

What is a leader?

We watch leaders everyday, whether it is in business or the media or even in our own communities. We see their success and the influence that they have in their organizations and we admire them. We admire their effortless  finesse and effective decision-making abilities. We imitate their dress, mannerisms, and no nonsense attitudes but fall short or success. Why is that? There must be something more to being a leader.

Russell Consulting, Inc organized what they believe are some of the core competencies of a leader. 

Some of the competencies that we have defined as core to the role of leaders include:

Strategic Thinking Coaching Problem Solving Decision Making Systems Thinking Delegation Performance Management and Accountability Inspiring a Shared Vision Managing Conflict Building and Sustaining Teamwork

Leading Change Quality and Productivity Improvement Servant Leadership Emotional Intelligence Innovation and Creativity Customer Service Employee Development Develop Trust Dealing with Ambiguity

 

What do you think? What do you think is missing from this list.

What is This!!!!!

This blog is the begining of my journey as a budding leader. I hope you will walk with me but please don’t expect me to know where I am going. I am expecting this to be the most chaotic, disfunctional, rocky trip imaginable but I also expect it to be fun!

This is what we need to consider before we leave……..
1. Where am I ( as a leader)?
2. Where is my destination?
3. What tool will I need to get there?
4.Who will help me reach my goal?

Someone said,”It’s lonely at the top”, well that saying is very true for leaders also. We have to walk such a fine line and present only the best that it becomes difficult to know when to relax and laugh at life. I don’t know everything, if anything, I know nothing.

Hello world!

What makes a great leader? Sometimes I wonder if this question is even considered by some people assuming leadership positions.( Did you catch the clarification?)  I do not believe that anyone in a leadership position is a good leader, some aren’t leaders at all! You may ask,” Dawn, how do you know so much about leadership and you only have five years experience?”

My answer to that would be to say that even after five years of leadership experience, I still know next to nothing. But the beauty of that is that I can admit that I need to continue learning and growing in my craft. Leadership is ever-changing and so is society. The staff that you may have led in the eighties is very different from the one you will lead now. Individuals today have a different perspective on business, work ethic and responsibility. So if you (as a leader) stop learning, how will you address these issues. How will you adapt to the changes in technology, communication…business?

I read an article written by Kathy Holdaway, president of Leading Edge Consulting, Inc. and she asks us to consider these qualities in a leader. The article can be found here! http://www.gwinnettnetwork.com/ArticleWhatMakesAGreatLeader.htm

Consider the following as a beginning list of Qualities:

Cooperation Collaboration Consistent Creative Conscious Caring

Capable Courageous Innovation Understanding Integrity Sense of humor

Do you possess these qualities? If so how are you using them to promote you business and increase revenue. Are you adept at team building and if asked privately, what would your staff say about you as a leader?