It’s easy to learn from mistakes when you’re inventing light bulbs, but leaders work with people not bulbs.
Leadership mistakes:
- Waste resources.
- Squander opportunities.
- Misuse talent.
- Hurt people.
The worst part of making mistakes is hurting others.
The three most dangerous mistakes leaders make:
Patrick Lencioni was asked to present at the Global Leadership Summit 2014 (#GLS2014) on the biggest mistakes leaders make. Here’s what he said.
#1. Becoming a leader for the wrong reason.
“Most people want to be known as the person who changed the world. That’s a very dangerous reason to become a leader. People should want to become a leader because they want to sacrifice themselves for the good of others even when they know there is no ROI.” Patrick Lencioni at (#GLS2014)
To aspire to lead is to aspire to serve.
“I’m tired of hearing about servant leadership, because I don’t think there is any other kind.” Lencioni #GLS2014
#2. Failing to embrace vulnerability.
- I don’t think you can be too vulnerable as a leader.
- People don’t want leaders to be perfect, they want leaders to be human.
- When you as a leader can be genuinely butt naked with people, then they will walk through walls of fire for you.
#3. Making leadership too important.
“Ask your family – do you think that I think my job is more important than you?” Lencioni #GLS2014
The greatest loss of leadership is losing yourself to your role.
Which leadership mistakes are most dangerous?
What other dangerous leadership mistakes can you add to the list?
*I’m attending the Global Leadership Summit 2014. This post interrupts the Dictionary for Leaders series.