As I often say, the first step in becoming a leader is self-awareness. This means understanding your strengths, values, accomplishments, development areas AND… recognizing (and admitting) any beliefs and behaviors that may be working against you. These are what I call your internal barriers; the “showstoppers” that are preventing you from getting to where you want to be.
For new leaders, one of the barriers that frequently pops up is the fear of failure. The thrill of the opportunity can be tempered by the self-inflicted pressure to be perfect.
What if I make a wrong decision? What if I can’t achieve all that’s expected of me? What if someone on the team doesn’t think I’m up to the job? What if I’m NOT perfect?
Here’s what I say to that. No one is perfect. In fact, perfection is debilitating. And trying to attain it can leave you at the station while the train is speeding forward.
So, how do you get past the fear?
Remember that leadership is a learning journey. Learning from others, learning from experience, and learning from mistakes. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Then learn from them.
Be real to keep it real. Practice transparency. Admit your mistakes and share what you’ve learned from them with your team. Give them the freedom to take risks and to learn from their own mistakes. Those lessons learned spark creativity, new ideas, and new approaches. Rare is the innovation that isn’t the result of multiple failures.
Remember that you don’t have to have all the answers. Lean on others for their expertise. Ask good questions. Listen.
Acknowledge that although you may not be the smartest person in the room, you know how to hire the smartest people in the room. Focus on building a team with diverse and complementary skills and creating an environment of mutual learning and respect.
Becoming the leader you want to be takes time. Leadership is a set of competencies. Be patient. Allow yourself the cycles to get it right. Be authentic. And keep learning.
To learn more, check out our Let’s TAWK Leadership podcast with Susan Montz, AVP Performance Improvement, Ochsner Health Network.
Till next time. Keep it real.
Karen
