The most common reason for why leaders fail is their own ego. Of course leaders do have to believe in themselves so that they can inspire others and earn their trust. But excessive self-confidence changes dialog with others into the leader’s never-ending monologue, and sooner or later causes his downfall. This is explained in an interesting article on Inc.com by Samuel Bacharach, a professor of management and Director of the Institute of Workplace Studies at Cornell University in the United States. The following are also causes of leaders’ failures, according to him:
A team with a single opinion
Leaders should encourage their team members to come up with creative ideas. Otherwise they risk situations where creativity stagnates and the teams don’t come up with any innovations.
Obsession with their own vision
All leaders must have a certain vision, a basic notion of what they want to accomplish. But this does not mean that they should insist on every detail of their idea and literally annoy their colleagues and customers with their vision.
Inability to delegate
Capable leaders realize that they cannot do everything themselves. But delegating is not as simple as may appear at first glance. It is necessary to find a balance so that you don’t delegate too little or, conversely, too much responsibility.
Inability to react flexibly
Leaders need strong determination when they know that they have to fulfill a certain task. But the determination should not limit them in being flexible in how they proceed. Leaders must be aware of broader circumstances and sometimes decide to take a slightly different path.
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