You're looking to become a better leader. What are some common misconceptions you should avoid?

Thinking of leadership as an act of service vs. authority/power helps us be more effective as leaders from the impact we create, and drives higher inner satisfaction. Lead with generosity and think about how you can make the team around you and the organization better for having you.

Leadership is all about communicating, inspiring and motivating, directing towards some purpose. The purpose comes from vision. Leadership comes from drive and passion. All leaders have passion for making a change. Good leaders walk the talk.

Leadership should not be seen as token for authority and power instead, Leadership should be viewed as a shared journey. The misconception that leadership is primarily about authority and power oversimplifies the dynamic nature of leading a team. Effective leadership involves a collaborative effort where the leader serves as a guide and catalyst for collective success. By understanding the unique strengths and talents within the team, a leader can harness the collective potential, fostering an environment where everyone contributes to their fullest capacity. In essence, effective leadership is about building a community of empowered individuals who are inspired to contribute their best towards a common purpose.

In my experience, a leader can bring out the best in a team by empowering them and giving them the authority they need. Contrary to the common belief that a leader makes the final decisions, I think a leader should take full responsibility for the team's choices. A leader should live in the world of quality envisioned by each team member, and by doing so, they can take control of the best possible outcomes.

I recall a lesson my manager first taught me when I stepped into my first leadership position was about the "7 levels of Empowerment". This is concept is about the progression from positional authority to transformative influence. Starting with (1) Positional Leadership, where authority is based on title, the levels advance through: (2) Permission Leadership - building relationships, (3)Production Leadership - emphasizing results, (4) People Development - mentoring, (5) Personhood - highlighting character, (6) Pinnacle - creating leaders, and ultimately (7) Person of Influence - where leaders have a lasting impact on individuals and the community. This framework helped me foster a culture of empowerment and growth, rather than authority.

Leadership is not a performance, therefore, there truly is no archetype. Adjusting your style of leadership according to your followers is imperative but this requires a deeper level of self-awareness, in the first instance. In my opinion, true leadership comes from within. It is about inspiring others through your own actions to become the leaders of themselves. This fosters a collaborative environment, making leadership the collaborative exercise that it should be.

A prevalent misbelief is that leadership adheres to a singular, universally effective style or personality. Contrary to this notion, leadership is a dynamic skill, adaptable to diverse situations, contexts, and individuals. Successful leaders recognize their strengths and weaknesses, understanding the varied needs, preferences, and motivations of their followers. They possess the ability to flexibly adjust their style based on the task, environment, and feedback. Remaining open to learning from others, they avoid rigid adherence to personal habits or assumptions. Leadership, far from a rigid mold, thrives on adaptability and continuous growth.

Be assured: Many roads lead to Rome - as many as there are leaders in the world Of course, you‘ll want to know what your „Rome“ is, leading does include having a destination (vision, mission, annual goals etc) Apart from that, you are free to dive into your talents and form your individual leadership style from your core Research might show varying success of leadership styles for different scenarios, but knowing that isn’t very helpful in itself If you try to „be“ someone from a book on leadership, you‘ll be lucky to become more than a hollow copy More likely, you‘ll lose credibility with your team Instead, identify the talents you lead with by nature, and consciously invest in them e.g. utilizing your CliftonStrengths Enjoy!

A common leadership misconception is that being authoritative equals effectiveness. True leadership involves collaboration and listening, not just giving orders. Another misconception is that leaders must have all the answers; in reality, acknowledging uncertainties and seeking input fosters a stronger team. Avoid thinking leadership is a solo journey; teamwork is crucial. Lastly, a misconception is that leadership is about control; empowering others and trusting their abilities often yields better results. Effective leadership embraces adaptability, empathy, and continuous learning, steering clear of rigid, outdated notions.

Indeed, there are many leadership styles and which one we use would depend on the specific situation, nature of the business and the organization, and other internal and external factors. I.e., if there is a fire, you don't want to be a democratic leader and consult everyone first. You need to be an autocrative leader, be decisive and lead people out of the building. Similarly, you may like democratic styles of leadership and even self-management concepts, but maybe people are not ready for that and they need more experience and training before this could be done. Whatever you do, the ultimate tests are: Are your eyes and the eyes of people around you shining? Are you and they being better people because of you? Is the company doing better?

Being a leader means that you are reliable enough that you can lead people towards common goal but it really doesn't mean that you have to know and do everything alone. A true leader is not the one who knows everything and does everything himself or herself but let others take part and work as per their knowledge and experience

A prevailing misunderstanding is that leadership is a solitary endeavor, requiring you to handle everything independently or solely rely on your expertise. In reality, leadership is a collaborative and relational process, necessitating the utilization of the collective intelligence and creativity within your team. Actively seeking input, advice, and feedback becomes paramount, transcending the mere issuance of orders. Acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of team members, rather than claiming sole credit or placing blame, is essential. Leadership, therefore, involves fostering a culture of trust, communication, and cooperation, steering away from a mentality of competition or isolation.

Experts and literature place more emphasis on leadership than followership, although they are they are two sides of the same coin. You are not a leader if no one will follow. And for others to follow, they must be influenced enough by you to surrender of their decisions to your compass. This includes: 1. People trust and respecting you. For that to happen, you must be consistent, transparent and ethical among other things. 2. Your vision and purpose inspire them. People must like and be proud of their path while they are following you. 3. You communicate and engage your group. You must seek input and address concerns, preferably involving them in the decision making 4. Leading by example. You must practice what you preach.

Collaborating with team members, seeking diverse perspectives, and fostering open communication have resulted in more innovative solutions. Acknowledging and appreciating the collective contributions of the team has not only boosted morale but also strengthened the bonds within the group.

The whole idea of being a leader is to harness the multidisciplinary potential inherently present in a team. In my experience, if a leader wins their hearts, nurtures their minds, stokes their souls and walks side by side - the team can transform into a relentless force that drives the team objective with a creativity and ingenuity par excellence. A leader may know a few domains inside out but knowing everything about everything is hardly feasible. Instead, he must focus on thoughtfully bringing together a diverse team, with each member excelling in a domain Then he must work to gain their loyalty/ trust and respect. Next build a camaraderie within the team. Finally guide them into synergising, collaborating towards the common team goal

I strongly believe that leadership is to bring confident to a person who follows you. No matter in work or in other places, a leader must design quick wins to be achieved then build or empower confidence among the team.

For me, BUILDING CREDIBILITY is really the key to the whole leadership challenge, beyond charisma and confidence. It requires a reexamination and genuine discussions about our values, purpose, behaviors, management structures and processes, strategy, and performance. Recognizing that every action, both individual and organizational, significantly influences our internal and external credibility is crucial. Leaders can truly make an impact only when concerted efforts are made to align these vital components.

There are leaders who are charismatic and this does help them to build followership, however this is just one leadership style as opposed to a required trait for successful leadership. There's been good research on the importance of empathy in leadership, I like Brene Brown's work on this. She speaks to the importance of vulnerability and courage in leadership which requires sharing failures, taking risks and choosing courage over comfort for the sake of the those you lead. Facing these things head on and sharing these with your team creates the psychologically safe space you need to lead teams to experiment and deliver high performance.

Exato. Embora o carisma possa ser uma qualidade útil para um líder, a liderança eficaz vai além disso. Habilidades como empatia, comunicação clara, tomada de decisões informadas e a capacidade de inspirar e motivar são igualmente cruciais. A autenticidade e a consistência também desempenham papéis fundamentais na construção da confiança da equipe.

True leadership is rooted in authenticity, transcending charisma and confidence. It thrives on the ability to empathise, genuinely care for others, and establish meaningful connections. This leadership approach fosters trust, collaboration, and a sense of shared purpose within the team, creating a culture of community.

Leadership is not a destination, it is a continuous journey of self discovery and improvement. As you continue to learn and grow as an individual and learn more about yourself, you will realise that you have so much more to learn about others. Leadership requires continuous curiosity about humanity and a genuine willingness to learn from others.

Leadership means evolving not achieving a goal, and you're done !!! Leaders are the ones who help others become leaders! Being a leader is not easy but you can always ensure that your status helps someone in different ways eg; guiding them to the right path, shedding light on them, helping them in their goals and much more!!! Become the person who you wanted as a mentor/friend/supporter when you were young !!!

Certamente. Liderança é mais um processo contínuo de aprendizado, crescimento e adaptação do que um destino final. Líderes eficazes estão sempre se desenvolvendo, enfrentando desafios, aprendendo com experiências e ajustando suas abordagens conforme necessário para liderar com sucesso em diferentes contextos e circunstâncias.

Leadership is not a destination but a perpetual journey. It's an ongoing process of growth, learning, and adaptation. It's not a static achievement but a continuous evolution 🙌🏻

Leadership is an ongoing process of growth and development. Avoid the misconception that once you reach a certain position, you've "made it." Continuously seek opportunities for learning, self-reflection, and improvement.

I did a talk recently and this was my main focus - we've been fed this myth that it's easy - 1000s of books written about it. You'd think you just have to follow the top tips and you'd be a great leader. If that was true we'd be surrounded by more effective leaders. The reality is that leadership is hard - the world is always changing, some things are in our control, others aren't and then there's the people to deal with ... every individual you deal with is different, you can't just order people to do things, any more (if you ever could) & expect them to comply. Also leadership is a daily practice, if you're a leader people look up to you, you don't get many days off - you have to be at your best, to support your team & organisation.

Leaders don't need to have all the answers. It's okay to seek input from your team, admit when you don't know something, and collaborate to find solutions. A leader's role includes facilitating problem-solving within the team.

Build a support system around yourself, and seek help at any needed moment. The more alone you see yourself in the process, the more difficult it can get.

Concordo plenamente. Liderança é complexa e desafiadora. Envolve lidar com variáveis humanas, resolver problemas, tomar decisões difíceis e manter um equilíbrio entre diversos interesses. A habilidade de liderar eficazmente demanda esforço contínuo, autenticidade e a disposição para enfrentar obstáculos com resiliência.

With my experience in years and having seen leaders closely and expert studies , some common misconceptions : 1) Leadership is all about communication . 2) Many of them feel that leadership is the way who follow the road of others 3) leadership is just a designation or a title 4) There’s always this moment where it’s misunderstood that leaders do not need to practice being resilient or more agile. 5) And it’s an expectation from all that they have to be knowing everything 6) Management and leadership is same and they decide factors together 7) Leadership is all about self and nothing else . 8) Leadership don’t dream for success 9) Leaders are only digital drivers 10) Leaders only manage annual performance

One big myth is... leaders have all the answers. They don't. I have learnt over time is that leaders have good questions. These questions will garner more answers and more holistic ways forward.

As an aspiring leader, I've come to realize that leadership is not about wielding authority, but about building relationships and empowering others. It's a dynamic skill that requires flexibility, adapting to different styles based on situations. Moreover, leadership is a collaborative effort, not a solo act. Seeking input and fostering a culture of trust are paramount. Charisma and confidence are valuable, but authenticity and humility make a true leader. Leadership is an ongoing journey, not a destination, and it comes with challenges that require resilience and dedication.

With my experience in years and having seen leaders closely and expert studies , some common misconceptions : 1) Leadership is all about communication . 2) Many of them feel that leadership is the way who follow the road of others 3) leadership is just a designation or a title 4) There’s always this moment where it’s misunderstood that leaders do not need to practice being resilient or more agile. 5) And it’s an expectation from all that they have to be knowing everything 6) Management and leadership is same and they decide factors together 7) Leadership is all about self and nothing else . 8) Leadership don’t dream for success 9) Leaders are only digital drivers 10) Leaders only manage annual performance

Misconception 7: Leadership is about having all the answers. Another misconception is that leaders should always know what to do, how to act, and which direction to go. While leadership does require a certain amount of experience and decisiveness, you should also feel comfortable with the following: > Taking the time to think > Saying "I don't know" > Admitting defeat > Asking for help Knowing your weaknesses and limitations is a mark of great leadership. You will achieve much more by knowing when to lead and when to let others step up.