Leadership is tough. Good leaders strive to constantly improve and adapt their leadership to the teams they lead. But it’s an uphill climb for leaders and teams alike when leaders make common mistakes.
Here are three of the most common leadership mistakes and how to avoid them:
Assuming you’re right.
Your staff aren’t merely cogs in the machine. They’re thinking human beings with individual insights and perspectives on their work and the company.
Leaders rise to their positions by knowing their work, their team’s work, and the company inside and out. From this perspective, it’s easy to forget that you aren’t the only valuable contributor to the team. When you do, however, you risk overlooking potential pitfalls and missing potential opportunities, all because you failed to listen critically to staff members at a crucial moment.
Failing to delegate.
The purpose of a team is that it takes on the day-to-day tasks, freeing leaders up to focus on the overall picture and the bigger goals. When leaders fail to delegate tasks, all the benefits of having front-line team members is lost. Workers become frustrated by the lack of opportunity to tackle projects and move upward in their careers while leaders stay as overwhelmed and harried as they were in their startup days. Take the time to know which members of your team can be trusted to handle which tasks, and then hand off the responsibility with clear deadlines and expectations.
Hiring too quickly.
The founders of a startup work round the clock to ensure that the company begins and grows at a sustainable pace. By the time the budget allows you to hire help, it’s tempting to grab the first person that comes along just to alleviate your own workload.
But quick hiring comes at a cost. When companies hire too quickly, they risk bringing in people whose work ethic and personality doesn’t fit the company’s culture. When this happens, the entire team’s productivity suffers. The chances that the new hire will leave also skyrocket – putting your company right back at square one if it happens.
Instead of hiring too quickly, work with a recruiter who can help you find the right “fit” in less time. At Burnett’s Staffing, our experienced recruiters can help you find the potential leaders among your current candidate pool – and choose the ones who fit your company’s needs best today and in the future. Contact us today to learn more.