Forbes Coaches Council
Kim Svoboda, CEO of Aspiration Catalyst® featured in Forbes
15 Big Misconceptions About Leadership (And The Truth Behind Them)
For those who have never held an executive, senior leadership or management position, it can be easy to believe that leadership is simply about giving orders and writing reports. However, effective leaders go further, showing compassion and empathy while instilling motivation within their employees.
When a leader demonstrates how the company’s core values align with their own by living them daily, employees are more likely to want to work with that person to help the company succeed. Below, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council explore some common misconceptions about leadership and what new leaders might actually learn in real time, once they are on the job.
1. Leaders Have All The Answers
Leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about knowing how to get to the best answer. For example, a problem arises, and the leader is turned to for a solution. A true leader will rally the team together to get insights from anyone else who has experienced a similar scenario, discuss critical factors and consider options, with actions and responsibilities clearly defined. - Sherre DeMao, BizGrowth Inc
2. Leadership Communication Isn’t Really ‘Doing’ Anything
Leadership is essentially about communication. The larger your organization gets and/or the more senior you get within it, the more your role becomes purely about communication—reinforcing vision, mission and values and giving context to the team. Many new leaders struggle with this, thinking that they are not “doing” anything. Communication is a vital aspect of leadership. - Mark MacLeod, Mark MacLeod, CEO Coach & Advisor
3. Leadership Is An Outward Command-And-Control Skill
People misunderstand leadership as an outward command-and-control skill. Self-awareness, emotional intelligence and empathy are the leadership strategies that allow us to succeed. These leadership strategies start with a strong foundation of self and allow people to build trust and connection with the leader, leading to higher job satisfaction, lower burnout and an increased bottom line. - Susan Hobson, Elite High Performance