Poor leadership in good times can be hidden, but poor leadership in bad times is a recipe for disaster say Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman in their research of 360-degree feedback data on more than 11,000 leaders in Fortune 500 companies. The researchers identified the 10 most common leadership shortcomings. The worst leaders:
- Lack energy and enthusiasm
- Accept their own mediocre performance
- Lack clear vision and direction
- Have poor judgment
- Don't collaborate
- Don't walk the talk
- Resist new ideas
- Don't learn from mistakes
- Lack interpersonal skills
- Fail to develop others
The majority of people in the study were surprised by their negative results. In our work with executives, we see everyday that most hard-working and well-intentioned people believe they are doing the right thing or they wouldn't be doing it! Human beings consistently think they are better than they are - a phenomenon referred to in psychology as "self-serving bias." Most people have an optimism regarding their own behavior.
Thus at Moore & Associates we believe self-awareness is the essential quality of leadership. Leadership development and coaching targeted to understanding oneself better (strengths and unique gifts, weaknesses, stresses, unconscious motives, etc.) are critical for success. As an executive, the more you learn about yourself, the more range you have to:
- Take action in new ways to deliver results in your unique role and organization.
- Increase your empathic abilities and understand what drives and motivates others.
- Attract and retain a diverse team whose whole becomes greater than the individual players.
The barrier to self-awareness? Self-deception of course. It's impossible to see ourselves objectively. Which is why great executive coaching is invaluable.
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