7 Deadly Mistakes You Must Avoid

You don’t need to learn from these mistakes, you need to avoid them.

Seven deadly mistakes you must avoid:

#1. Neglecting small wins.

You need some big wins. How you achieve them is what matters.

1. Win small – win often.
2. Big wins are the result of many small wins.
3. Day-to-day behaviors produce dramatic results.

Win small to win big.

#2. Setting distant goals.

Set short-term goals that allow you to start again.

It’s better to finish one thing and start another than to keep hacking in the weeds. 

#3. Proving yourself.

You proved yourself when they hired you.

1. Own the job.
2. Find confidence in your ability to listen, learn, and decide. (You won’t know it all or have all the answers.)
3. Avoid defensiveness.
4. Remember that your words and actions deeply impact those around you.

#4. Being gullible.

1. People have personal agendas.
2. There’s almost always more to the story.
3. Mistakes are minimized; successes exaggerated.
4. There’s a difference between flashy and getting things done. Flashy people talk about things they’re going to do, but often don’t do much.

Curiosity, transparency, and candor answer gullibility. Keep exploring. Ask questions before making statements.

Listen to doers not drama mongers.

#5. Neglecting the free stuff.

1. Pats on the back.
2. At-ah boys.
3. Thank-yous.
4. Public acknowledgement.

#6. Speaking quick and listening slow.

Quick speaking leaders make others feel devalued.

1. Listen long enough to make others feel heard.
2. Take a breath and relax.
3. Say, “Tell me more.”
4. Use a power pause.
5. Ask, “What else?”

Engagement and ownership require feeling heard.

#7. Forgetting enjoyment.

If you aren’t careful, the more important you become, the more miserable you feel.

1. Enjoy your teammates, even though they have weaknesses.
2. Celebrate wins, even as you look for the next.
3. Relish problems as opportunities to make something better.
4. Focus on controlables.

What deadly mistakes must leaders avoid?