Karen Schmidt, a contributor to the PM Hut website dedicated to project management, claims in one article that there are some fairly common mistakes being made by those who are new to the role of a leader. The good news is that once you know about them, they can be easily avoided. However, recognising them can be quite difficult. So let’s go through a list of the 5 most common ones.
1. A manager or a leader?
Many companies use these two terms to mean the same thing but in fact they are not synonymous. A manager looks after operational matters, follows instructions and carries out set tasks. Managers focus on “doing things right”. A leader, on the other hand, is someone whose desire is to “do the right things”. He makes important decisions and finds the best ways to achieve the company’s strategic goals. Most new leaders are not in senior positions, so they have to balance both operational and strategic activities.
2. Appropriate mind-set
When you act in a way that shows your superiority and absolute brilliance, your subordinates may feel like you are really high and mighty. You may have the intention of presenting yourself as a strong leader but the risk is that your team’s reaction will be submissive and negative. Instead, try to emphasise that you are there to support them and that your relationship can be mutually rewarding.
3. Base your actions on solid philosophical foundations
Coin a well-defined philosophy in order to underpin the decisions you are making. If you manage to create this and communicate it to your team, you will be perceived as a leader whose stance is clear – a leader that the team wants to follow, even if the path is unfamiliar.
4. No one size fits all styles
Style is the way you demonstrate your attitudes and your philosophy. The situations you will face and the people you will meet vary – and you have to be flexible in how you cope with them. Be consistent but think about the prevailing conditions of each situation.
5. Master the art of proper communication … and communicate
A leader needs to provide everyone – the team, peers, customers, suppliers and many others – with relevant information. Consider the variety of communication channels you can use and never forget that there is a diverse range of people.
-jk-