5 Leadership Myths of Leaders on the Fast Path
“I have been promoted two times in the last four years,” the young sales leader told me, “and I don’t plan to be in this job all that long either.” My coaching client was definitely on the fast path. She had been recognized as a high-flyer and someone destined for executive leadership in the organization. However, the review of her most recent 360 Degree Leadership Assessment showed some concerning trends in how people in the organization related to her and viewed her motivations. It was clear from the scores and write-in comments that most people thought she was in it for herself and didn’t care much about anyone else.
As I spoke with my client, I learned that she was embracing several myths that can become stumbling blocks to a leader on the fast-promotional path. If not dealt with, these myths can lead to disengaged team members and long-term performance challenges.
Myth #1 – I’m Driving Results, Relationships are not that important
Any leader who ignores relationships with the people on their team while in pursuit of driving results will experience long term struggles when engagement levels sag. Short term results may be positive, but over time people want to know that you care about them personally before they will buy-in to what you are trying to accomplish.
Myth #2 – People expect me to drive hard
Being a hard driver is not a bad thing unless, of course, you are perceived as a manipulative leader trying to get ahead for your purposes. If you are not motivating and inspiring others through purpose and vision, they will disengage.
Myth #3 – I won’t be here long enough to develop an organizational culture on my team
If you are there for a day, a week, or a month you are developing a culture. You can either design the one you want or default to whatever shows up. And since you are planning to be promoted in the organization, the culture you leave behind will most likely come back to get you in the end.
Myth #4 – I don’t need to develop other leaders, the next leader can do that
Like the previous myth, since you are planning to be promoted in the organization, if you don’t invest in a leadership culture, it will most likely come back to get you in the end.
Myth #5 – When I get the top job, I’ll learn to be the leader I need to be
When you get to the top, it will be too late to prepare. The leadership roles you have in the journey to the top are the roles where you should be learning to lead in a way that fully engages and inspires your team.
As a leader, one of the fastest ways to increase influence with others is to improve how you communicate. More specifically, we need to improve how others perceive our communication.