Mistakes

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

I recently read an article by Tony Morgan - “10 Stupid Leadership Mistakes I’ve Made.”

As a Leader, our mistakes can be a catalyst for learning. Take time to reflect on the following points and see if they are being reflected in your own style and behavior. The following are 10 mistakes listed in the article:

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Mistake #1

: Hiring too fast and firing too slow. “When a position is open that needs to be filled, and the right person isn’t available, it’s hard to wait. The temptation is to fill the role with the best available person, but sometimes that still is not the right person…. On the flip side, I’ve made the mistake of waiting too long to let someone go.”

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Mistake #2

: Trying to fix the problem rather than the process. “Regrettably, there have been too many times when I’ve found myself reacting to a problem, rather than addressing the process that caused the situation in the first place.”

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Mistake #3

: Putting a project before the people. “Other leaders may have the opposite challenge of allowing relationship to get in the way of accomplishing the vision and purpose of the organization. But, because I am not naturally a people-person, I tend to get too task-driven. Good leaders find that balance between getting the job done - and embracing the relational component of doing life together as a team.”

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Mistake #4

: Not delegating tasks or responsibility. “When pushed into a corner, I naturally revert back to my perfectionist tendencies - because I know the way it should be done. If I let myself, I can fall into the trap of thinking I’m the only one who can get it done… Yet, in reality, I am not that good - usually, someone else can do it better. Secondly, the failure to empower others with significant responsibilities limits their potential….”

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Mistake #5

: Assuming it’s always black and white. “…..maybe it’s because following a list of rules is easier than making a wise and discerning decision… Most of life, of course, is not black and white.”

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Mistake #6

: Not following my gut. “In an effort to make the best decision, I sometimes get stuck trying to acquire more and more information - rather than trusting my gut, and taking action.”

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Mistake #7

: Dwelling on the worst-case scenario. “Again, this is what happens when I let my focus wander from thoughts of “belief” to the circumstances around me.”

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Mistake #8

: Waiting until there’s a problem to provide needed feedback. “One of my biggest mistakes as a leader has been withholding encouragement when the team delivers, and only speaking up when expectations are not met.”

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Mistake #9

: Staying busy, doing less productive tasks. “I’ve fallen into this trap too many times. In my mind, I tell myself if I’m busy, I am adding value. The reality, of course, is that our busyness can get in the way of effectiveness. We can be busy doing the wrong things. And, if we don’t discipline our lives, we’ll find ourselves investing a lot of time - doing things that have little impact.”

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Mistake #10

: Spending too much time on the details rather than the dreams. “This is a natural corollary to the mistake of staying busy. When life gets busy, and I get distracted in all the details flowing my way, I lose site of the dreams that God has given to me. We need to create space to remember all that God has called us to be and do.”