Most professionals don’t go into a leadership position thinking about the ways in which they can kill their new career. But what if you knew beforehand the skills needed to be a successful leader, ones that could potentially help you avoid a “crash and burn” career? Well, that’s exactly what Martin Moore, founder and CEO of Your CEO Mentor, and I discussed in a recent episode of Let’s Fix Work. In this blog post, I want to share two common misconceptions made by leaders.
Misconception #1: Communicating Effectively
When it comes to communicating as a leader, Martin says it’s important to realize that being able to talk is not the only skill needed. He says, “It’s about listening and understanding the people that you’re talking to. And, you need to have the ability to get the most out of your people by having the leadership dialogue that brings out their best.”
Communication is a two-way street and is also more complex than the word implies. The most effective leaders have the ability to listen, understand, and empathize with their team members.
Misconception #2: Building a High Performing Team
Building a high performing team is a lot harder than it sounds, according to Martin. He goes on to say that many leaders say they have built a high performing team, but when you quiz them on it, they don’t really know what that means.
So what does it mean to have a high quality team? Credentials on a resume, work experience, and awards or recognition does not solely make a high quality team. In fact, you can still have amazing talent on your team. But Martin says, “It boils down to people being happy, getting on well together, AND actually delivering the outcomes that’s required of them by the organization.”
Knowledge is power, right? I believe understanding leadership misconceptions is paramount to your success as a leader. To learn is to grow and by growing, you open the doors to becoming the best leader you can be. And I ask you, if you’re not learning or growing, what are you doing?
If you’re looking to improve your leadership skills and want to hear from a man who knows a thing or two about leadership (and has a killer Australian accent), then head over here to listen to this episode of Let’s Fix Work.