Working with leaders is an honor, and very enlightening. Thousands of sessions, hundreds of leaders later, there are some very clear commonalities that have shown themselves along the way.

Hope this is helpful for you today:

1. Culture Comes from Within the Leader. 

Top-down, value-based culture will always win over-reactive culture-building initiatives. Leaders who build companies based on the healthy values that leader has at their core, will not only attract similar teams, but will naturally create a healthy culture.  Will leaders stray off the value path? Yes. But leaders who create values based on who they naturally are, will always have a homebase to return to. 

2. Your Direct Report should not be your Confidant. 

I am not selling coaching. (Maybe a little). Here’s the thing though: leadership is lonely. Leaders need objective guides. Something we see time and time and time and time (and time) again is leaders who use their trusted direct report as their confidant. Big no-no. Leaders have a responsibility to protect the team. A big part of that is protecting them from issues that could unnecessarily weigh them down.  Lighten their loads and let them use that mental space to do their jobs well. Using your direct report as a confidant will also become very messy when (not if) you make changes in leadership structure and/or roles. That person will feel that they have earned a spot at the top based on the fact that you have confided so much in them. Get a coach. Get a mentor. Call your Aunt.  Just don’t shovel the hard stuff on your team. (A note to my team…sorry for the times I did this to you.) 

3. Flexibility will be one of your Greatest Assets.

Your vision will change. Your goals will change. Your team will change. The market will change. Leaders who are too rigid have the most stress, tension among the team and least amount of productivity.  Learn to stay the course while also allowing room for adjustments. Change is good, as long as it’s managed in an intentional way. 

4. Assuming the Best is a Massive Stress Reliever.

You can’t imagine how many conflict resolution-type meetings we have facilitated that could have been avoided completely if the leader’s first response was “I’m sure they meant well, let’s find out more information.”  Our non-official statistic of this is 8 out of 10 times, conflict in the workplace would be squashed immediately if leaders asked more questions about a situation than jumped to what they believe MUST have happened. Leaders - assume the best.  The worst thing that can happen is that you’re wrong. The best thing is that you’ll save yourself and others much stress and you’ll build trust. Leadership is about managing our behavior, and this is one muscle that is worth strengthening.

5. Leaders think they Know, but they have No Idea.

Leaders not having a thorough understanding of what their team thinks/needs is as definite as death and taxes. No matter how welcoming and open a leader is, teams tell me everyday they don’t feel free to be 100% honest. This isn’t the fault of the leader, this is the nature of having a leader.  Point being: make frequent conversations, roundtable discussions, and surveys a part of your company’s rhythms. Leaders will never have the TOTAL picture, but leaders that seek it the most, find some of it. 

6. You’re Not that Special.

You are, I’m kidding. What’s not though, are your problems. Many leaders think their problems are unique. They aren’t.  We coach people in so many different industries and here’s why: every business has the same problems.  People issues, systems issues, communication issues, they look the same regardless of industry.  I hope this encourages you. Because your challenges are common, means there are solutions for them. 

7. You’ve Been Chosen.

Whether you believe in God, the universe or whatever inspiring figurehead is streaming on tiktok, know this: you have been chosen for leadership.  I don’t know why, but someone or something does. On days where you feel like an imposter (a daily conversation in our world, with people that would shock you), or like you lack talent, capabilities, creativity, patience, experience, all the things…know that there is something about you that someone/something said “this person is made for this role right now.” Take confidence in that. 

We would be excited to hear more about you and your team. If you’re curious about coaching, click the button below, and let’s chat.