The business sphere today is a highly competitive space with organizations relying on various strategies to get a hold on the market. While various factors such as marketing techniques, risk management, innovative ideas and strong employee base contribute to the success of a business, one of the driving forces for any organization is the leadership team. Strong leaders have the potential and business acumen to navigate a business towards success. The leadership approach for establishing a successful business differs based on the type of industry you are in. However, there are some common attributes that leaders across the world possess. Similarly, there are certain leadership mistakes that professionals should steer away from in order to be successful. This blog will walk you through the attributes of a strong leader and what a potential leader should avoid. Read on to find out more.
8 things a leader should NOT do
- Not lead by example: as leaders, it is your responsibility to set the rules for your team members and ensure that they follow them. However, on the flip side, it is also your responsibility to practice what you preach. Imposing rules for your subordinates to follow and disregarding them yourself sets a poor example. Professionals who want to take on leadership roles must lead by example. Leaders have a powerful influence on their team members and hence, they must walk the talk before expecting it out of others.
- Not admit mistakes: Alexander Pope once said “To err is human, to forgive divine.” As humans, regardless of whether you are at a high-ranked position or have an entry-level job, it is normal to make mistakes every now and then. However, as a leader, it is essential that you admit your mistakes without causing a fuss. The inability to accept your mistakes reflects poorly on your leadership skills; not only does it show that you cannot be trusted but also speaks volumes about your inability to be a good leader.
- Ineffective communication: the ability to communicate effectively is one of the key traits of a good leader. If you have poor communication skills, chances are that your leadership approach will also be unproductive. Open communication is the foundation for building a competent team. It creates a positive environment for the team members and encourages them to efficiently resolve conflicts and issues. Furthermore, it can help develop a transparent professional among your team members.
- Demotivate to improve performance: One of the most common leadership mistakes is demotivating and criticizing team members as a means of improving their productivity. While constructive criticism goes a long way in motivating employees to improve their performance, the same cannot be said about insensitive criticism. Leaders, in the quest to enhance their team’s productivity, might resort to insensitive criticism. However, this adversely affects the morale of the team, leading to inefficiency.
- Ineffective delegation: delegation should be one of the strongest suits of a leader, as it directly influences the productivity and success of a team. Good leaders know the strengths and weaknesses of their team members and delegate the work assignments accordingly. It is important for leaders to be aware of the skills and potential of each employee in their team and carry out delegation accordingly. The inability to delegate work appropriately can not only affect the productivity of the organization but also reflect poorly on their leadership skills.
- Lie: Management programs emphasize the role that trust plays in building an efficient team. Being transparent goes a long way in building effective professional relationships. If your employees feel they cannot trust and rely on you, chances are that they will not accept you as a leader. Handling power is a difficult task as it may sometimes get to your head. Ensure that, in a work setting, you keep your ego aside and treat your subordinates and their ideas with equal respect. This will instil the virtue of honesty among them, leading to better productivity and less errors.
- Limiting access to opportunities: the ultimate goal of working in a progressive business environment is to catalyse professional growth. Leaders who restrict their subordinates from potential opportunities to help them, generally, do not fare well in their professional life either. Leaders must give equal opportunities to their team members to explore better avenues and guide them to achieve their full potential.
- Recruiting too many, too soon: talent acquisition is a difficult task to accomplish, especially since a recruiter has to factor in a range of aspects such as educational qualifications, behavioural traits, communication skills and ethics and integrity. If leaders aren’t cautious while carrying out the recruitment process, it could affect the organization adversely. It would also be a poor example of their leadership and people skills. The job of identifying potential talent is difficult and must be done carefully.
If you want to enhance your leadership skills and learn more about leadership management techniques, the Master of Business Administration program offered by University Canada West (UCW) might be the ideal choice for you. The course structure focuses on various management techniques and also helps students develop the leadership skills that are necessary for the competitive business environment of today. The MBA program is offered on-campus as well as online, helping students acquire professional qualification as per their convenience. Stay tuned on our blog to get more professional tips.
