As we usher in a new year, it's time to reassess our leadership styles. Let's explore three detrimental habits that could be hindering your leadership potential and discuss why it's crucial to leave them behind.
Leadership Habits to Leave in the Past
Though 2022 has started off repeating some of the same headlines as early 2021 – a surge in Covid cases and uncertainty surrounding office reopenings and in-person schooling, along with the dual reality of anxiety about the most contagious variant of the pandemic yet for some and an “over it”mentality for others – it doesn’t mean that we should repeat the leadership mistakes we made in 2021 or even 2020.
- Many of our bad leadership behaviors are rooted in limited empathy.
Talking About Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle
The past is the past, and it’s behind us. Unlike salmon, who reliably swim upstream to spawn in the same spot for generations, our route to the past is irreversibly blocked.
- Embrace change and co-create a solution with your employees by beginning a dialogue with the people you work with and sharing your own concerns.
Cameras Off
Building rapport and understanding requires paying attention to the nonverbal cues and what is being said
- Turn your camera on and make it a requirement of all participants to do the same
- Then notice how much better you are able to comprehend and be understood by your colleagues
All Business All the Time
Make an investment of time and effort into your team
- Rewrite the script on the traditional update meeting by focusing the first 10-15 minutes on personal talk
- Ask broad, exploratory questions
- Open up and share about yourself
- Model what you want from your team
