Leadership Flaw You Have to Avoid
Don't play unexpendable.
“Everyone is replaceable.”
Do you agree? Curious. Let me know.
While you probably say not everyone is replaceable, let’s play a little game today. Think about why leaders should become replaceable.
Do we think alike? 👇
What happens if you’re not there
Some people have this noisy and annoying feeling. They want to be everywhere. If they are not there, they lose control.
They play Hermione Granger with the time-turner.
You WANT TO be there. Accepting every meeting. Working overtime. Working weekends.
The feeling of being indispensable is a flaw you must get rid of now.
Leadership is not about being everywhere, making all decisions, and being obsessed with power. It’s quite the opposite. Leadership is trust.
Trust holds together people like a well-oiled machine. Leadership is the direction that you help co-create.
The vision and mission matter. If it does not work without you, something is off.
Where do we go now?
You have point A and point B. You set with a group of people off to reach B. You choose the way and go. If by any chance, you disappear, the next person takes the lead, and the group continues.
Why is that possible? Because everyone knows they need to get to the point B. They all can make the best decision they can to get there.
Some might know some shortcuts. Some have a better sense of orientation. What binds them together is the journey and the goal.
If everyone is on your shoulders, every decision, every meeting, or every signature, your team will never feel empowered or responsible for anything.
Don’t treat them like a kindergarten. Don’t hold their hands when you don’t have to.
Everyone should be able to answer: “Where do we go now?”
Unveiling the true secret to greatness – it's all about the team
What makes leaders great?
Experience, intuition, positivity, courage, integrity, authority, transparency, calmness, sense of humor, authenticity, innovativeness, and more.
But the truth is it is the team that makes leaders great. A good leader has a nose for people. They can choose the ‘right’ members and utilize their skills.
Leaders cannot achieve much alone.
You have examples everywhere. Politics. Corporations. Health system. Education. Movies.
The Earth does not stop spinning when you sleep. So, why should you work when you take holidays or decline the next meeting?
Yes, we all meet extraordinary people who change our lives. Yet, if it wasn’t this person, maybe it would be the next one you meet.
Don’t build your image, build your team instead. Your team is your legacy and partner in crime.
Make yourself expendable
The thought of making yourself expendable might seem counterintuitive at first, but it’s a strategic approach.
If you want sustainable and effective leaders, then don’t make it depending on you!
Prioritize team development, innovation, and long-term organizational success. This kind of thinking helps your organization to expand without being limited by the capacity of individual leaders.
So many times companies outgrow their leaders and they have a hard time catching up.
Individual ownership is what is often missing. Let them decide and participate. Remember to always embed the idea of A to B. Then, the team becomes less reliant on specific individuals and move on together as one synchronized machine.
TL;DR
Take these with you:
Empowerment over control: Leaders should prioritize team empowerment and delegation to foster a culture of trust and responsibility.
Shift focus from individual to collective: Making oneself expendable shifts the focus from individual authority to collective responsibility, enabling sustainable organizational growth.
Encourage ownership and accountability: By empowering team members, leaders cultivate a culture where individuals feel accountable and invested in the team's success.
A to B: If they cannot answer where they go, work on it.
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