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5 Leadership Mistakes Even the Best Bosses Make

5 Leadership Mistakes Even the Best Bosses Make
by Marcel Schwantes

They may be great and smart, but they're also human and will make mistakes.

If you think your boss is some freak of nature and you're the luckiest person alive, I'll break it to you gently: He or she is human and will make mistakes.

The great ones rise up from their errors by A) acknowledging they made a mistake and correcting a behavior (think humility), or B) acknowledging a blind spot that needs to be addressed, then doing something about it.

Lets dive into a few prevalent leadership mistakes that even the best and smartest leaders tend to make.

1. The mistake of not giving employees a listening ear.
I recently wrote about the powerful business practice of "stay interviews." Unlike the exit interview, this concept is predicated on listening to employees' feedback to get fresh insight into improving the work environment that will help retain those valued employees today--not after they have emotionally disconnected and turned in their resignations. Leaders who check hubris at the door and listen authentically in this manner build trust, but even the smartest of leaders have this blind spot where they don't leverage active listening skills to build and support culture. The message coming across to employees is that they're not seen as important and part of the family -- a critical mistake even for the brightest leaders.

2. The mistake of not giving employees enough information.
Great leaders inform their employees when there are changes taking place. They tell them as much as they can, as soon as they can, to avoid disengagement and low morale. They give employees the pros and cons of a new strategy, and don't hold back and deliver unpleasant surprises later. When the chips are down, they reassure their employees by giving them the facts and how they fit into the big picture. They never stop asking for input and how employees are feeling about things. Finally, they deliver bad news diplomatically and tactfully, choosing the timing and approach well. Unfortunately, when even the best of leaders fail to communicate authentically at this level, consistently over time, they'll find that their people will distance themselves and lose their trust.

3. The mistake of not coaching their employees.
In the sports world, it's essential for top athletes to have a coach. But when it comes to the business world, coaching is a rare commodity. As great and smart as some managers are, they typically don't have the time or knowledge, or see the value in coaching. The belief around coaching needs to change because, truthfully, managers who are good coaches will produce greater results in less time, increase a team's productivity, and ultimately develop more leaders out of their followers. Coaching in its best form doesn't have to be a formal and fancy process requiring a big budget. Once you nail down the basics, it's simply a process of mutual and positive dialogue that includes asking questions, giving advice, providing support, following through on action planning, and making time to help grow an employee.

Read full article on Inc.