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Ten Mistakes Leaders (or Managers) Make
Compiled
by Tesfaye Habisso
“Good
leaders will eventually prepare for their departure by mentoring and
coaching successors. Bad leaders will create an atmosphere of
indispensability and will want to hold on to the reins of power..”
Making mistakes and erring from time to
time in itself is not a bad thing. How else can we learn if we are not
allowed to a mistake or two? People who learn from mistakes are those who
remember them and ensure that they never repeat their failed effort again—good
wisdom. And there are those that keep repeating the same mistakes, never
learning. The crucial issue here is not about the one or two mistakes that
a leader can or will make. But it is about a pattern of operation or a way
he or she always does things.
#1. THE TOP DOWN
ATTITUDE
Good leaders will serve people and create
the atmosphere where others can learn without impending fear. Bad leaders
bark out orders, create fear and take for granted that people exist to
serve them.
#2. PUTTING PAPERWORK
BEFORE PEOPLE WORK
Good leaders know that people are their
most important asset and will treat them accordingly. Bad leaders have
their focus on the direction of things. People are only a tool to get the
job done.
#3. ABSENCE OF
AFFIRMATION
Good leaders exude warmth, are easily
approachable and offer genuinely good affirmations and encouragement. Bad
leaders lack the ability to extend warmth or affection thinking that’s
for the bedroom not the boardroom.
#4. NO ROOM FOR
MAVERICKS
Good leaders encourage mavericks to unleash
their full potential. Mavericks thrive as they are freed to fly. Bad
leaders with a managing or controlling mindset want everyone to toe the
line especially the mavericks.
#5. DICTATORSHIP IN
DECISION-MAKING
Good leaders will say ‘we or they’ did
it because for them the team and others and their contribution comes
first. Bad leaders because of their insecurities always speak in ‘1 to 1’.
They love the limelight and need attention.
#6. DIRTY DELEGATION
Good leaders delegate when there are
opportunities to let others have ownership and learn as they go. Bad
leaders either abdicate or delegate sloppily with many strings attached
and then play the blame game.
#7. COMMUNICATING CHAOS
Good leaders know that communication is,
not telling people ‘what to do’ but about ‘getting through’. Bad
leaders (even those who speak well ) don’t ‘get through’ they just
dish out information.
#8. MISSING THE CLUES OF
CORPORATE CULTURE
Good leaders work towards building a
long-term and sustainable organization culture of excellence. Bad leaders
are tossed to and fro by every ‘wind of fad’ and have a ‘flavour of
the month’ mindset.
# 9. SUCCESS WITHOUT
SUCCESSORS
Good leaders will eventually prepare for
their departure by mentoring and coaching successors. Bad leaders will
create an aura of indispensability and will want to hold on to the reins
of power
# 10. FAILURE TO FOCUS
ON THE FUTURE
Good leaders see far into the future more
than anyone else and they work to take their people there. Lesser leaders
live in the NOW and focus on the monotony of the day.
Adapted from TEN TOP MISTAKES LEADERS MAKE
By Hans Finzel—Victor Books, 1977.
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