As a leader, it’s important to have a balance of care and accountability for your employees. While it’s important to have a supportive and motivating environment, going overboard in certain areas can have negative consequences for both the leader and the team.
Here are six times when a leader can go overboard and they should stop immediately:
When leaders are being a perfectionist: When leaders are perfectionists, they tend to scrutinize everyone’s work, disempowering their team members in the process. This can lead to disengagement and turnover and can also derail the process. The best leaders understand that perfectionism is a constant source of stress and that it’s impossible to achieve. Instead, they focus on setting realistic goals and working towards them.
When leaders are asking for too many options: Effective leaders make quick decisions, even if it entails painful consequences. Overboard leaders can get stuck in a cycle of asking for too many options, but the best leaders understand that indecision and over-analysis can lead to missed opportunities and wasted time. They take steps to avoid this and make decisions that will benefit the team.
When leaders are leading with autonomy: Leaders can also go overboard when leading with autonomy by not being inclusive and leaving talent behind. This can make their team resentful. The best leaders avoid this by leading with valuing the contributions of their team members.
When leaders care too much: Can leaders care too much, yes they can when it makes them avoid confrontation or giving honest feedback. A true caring leader understands that making difficult decisions and inflicting short-term discomfort can lead to long-term benefits for everyone, and the real caring is being honest.
When leaders are micromanaging: Micromanaging is a way leaders can go overboard, stifling creativity and initiative among their team members. Leaving the person feeling unimportant and not as a contributor. If you want to succeed in leadership then stop going overboard with your micromanaging and start delegating, allow your people to show you what they are capable of.
When leaders are constantly interrupting: The best leaders understand that while speaking and sharing their knowledge is important, it’s equally important to listen to others. By interrupting constantly, leaders risk missing out on valuable insights and ideas from their team members. Interrupting also creates an environment where team members may feel discouraged from speaking up and sharing their thoughts. The best leaders know that to truly succeed, they must actively listen to their team and create a space where everyone feels heard and valued.
In conclusion, going overboard in one area or the other can have negative consequences for both the leader and the team. By being aware of these potential pitfalls, leaders can take steps to avoid them and create a more effective and productive team.
Lead From Within: Many leaders can go overboard, but the best leaders know when their leadership is infringing on their own potential and learn to stop.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.