Developing Leadership Skills: Three Mistakes to Avoid

Each of those who strive for success, probably at least once wondered how you can develop your own leadership qualities. Marshall Goldsmith is sure that first of all you need to try to avoid the most common mistakes. Among these, the business coach refers to an excessive desire to win, an excessive desire to contribute, and a need to evaluate.

Excessive desire to win

According to the professor, winners like to compete in everything and become the first. Because of this, they develop a need for pointless disputes and attempts to prove their own innocence, even in cases where this should not be done – for example, in conversations with parents, children, or a spouse. In this case, Goldsmith calls for asking questions about whether it is necessary to prove one’s own case, to fight, and whether this fight is worth the result.

“A few years ago I received a letter,” recalls the business coach. – The young man wrote: “I know you don’t remember me, but I was at your lecture about five years ago. Yesterday the following happened to me: my wife called me and told me what a difficult day she had. I was terribly busy at that moment, and my day as a whole was not easy.

I wanted to explain to her that her problems were nothing compared to mine. But then I remembered your course, stopped and reminded myself that this is my wife, the person I love. I listened to my wife and thanked her for what she does for the family. On the way home, I bought her flowers for $25 — and it was the best investment of my life!”

Excessive desire to contribute

Goldsmith assesses this quality as negative, because it, as a rule, reduces the level of motivation of employees. For example, if a subordinate proposes to implement his own business project, and the manager is fond of finalizing it, the author of the idea ceases to feel his involvement and significance and, as a result, loses the need to implement the project.

The need to evaluate

According to Goldsmith’s observations, 65% of all interpersonal communications are spent expressing (or listening to) thoughts about how stupid, incompetent or bad someone is, or vice versa – how smart, special and wonderful a person is. The only tool to increase productivity in this case is to reduce the number of such conversations. “We spend too much time on them and at the same time we don’t learn anything,” he assures and urges less judgment and more help.

So how should it be?

Separately, Goldsmith singles out the theme of faith in one’s own strength, cause and idea. He believes that every person who is convinced of the success of his project should be ready to invest his own money in it. “If the client gets the result he needs, the money will be returned to you, but if there is no result, then the money too,” he explains his position.

Goldsmith also compares the position of a leader-manager and a business coach. In his opinion, success and change depend mainly on the client, and not on the coach or leader. He often cites his client Alan Mulally, the businessman who saved Ford Motor Company, of which he was CEO from 2006 to 2014, from collapse. According to the business coach, Mulally spent relatively little time on his course and achieved more results than other clients.

The learning process, in his opinion, brings results if you choose the right clients: “You should never put your own ego at the center of the learning process, the client should be at the center. If the client doesn’t care, don’t waste your time. If you don’t care, don’t waste your time either. Don’t steal time from those who care.”

Goldsmith urges not to waste time on what you cannot change, and pay attention to what is close to you: “You should not change everything at once. Choose what your heart tells you and work on it. It could be one of your traits or habits that working on will have a positive impact on your life, family or business.”