Lack of effort isn’t the problem for good leaders.
Smart people do dumb things and sincere leaders make stupid mistakes.
16 ways CEOs shoot themselves in the foot:
#1. Going it alone.
It’s your own fault if it’s lonely at the top. For goodness sake …
- Get a mentor.
- Hire a coach.
- Form a leadership group of your peers.
#2. Putting your head down and plowing forward instead of reconnecting with the big picture.
Keep your eye on the goal, but adapt as you go.
#3. Putting off nasty jobs and tough conversations.
It’s one thing to prepare, but it’s self-sabotage to delay.
#4. Failing to acknowledge and compensate for weaknesses.
Ego thinks it’s good at nearly everything. You’re really good at two or three things. That’s it.
#5. Listening to your gut on technical matters.
Intuition helps you understand values, but has little value when solving technical problems.
#6. Judging people by the stories you tell yourself about them.
Always confirm your judgement with the people involved.
#7. Repeatedly solving the same problems.
The solution to recurring problems is a process, procedure, or system.
#8. Doing things the way they’ve always been done.
#9. Ignoring low-hanging fruit and quick wins when projects have distant deadlines.
#10 Neglecting energy management.
Always do important work when you’re at your best.
Know when others are at their best.
#11. Doing what YOU think is important instead of aligning with organizational priorities.
#12 Pulling back when you feel misunderstood or under-appreciated.
Give your best because it’s who YOU are, not because you’re recognized or praised.
#13. Underestimating quiet people.
#14. Over-estimating the potential of untested team members.
Test people in small ways before betting the farm on untested employees.
#15. Delegating tasks instead of giving authority.
#16. Failing to monitor performance.
- Ask for progress reports.
- Help inexperienced people manage time.
- Discuss and identify important deliverables.
Which of the above activities seem most detrimental to leaders?
What might you add to the above list?