As I was re-reading Think and Grow Rich recently, I came across a section that
struck a chord in me: THE 10 MAJOR CAUSES OF FAILURE IN LEADERSHIP. As entrepreneurs, we are, or aspire to be, leaders in our company and we spend a lot of time focused on how to be a better leader. However, we need to keep our egos in check and pay attention to the hazards we face because it is just as important to know what not to do as it is to know what to do.
In order to keep this brief, I’m just summarizing and paraphrasing Napoleon Hill’s points here.
1. INABILITY TO ORGANIZE DETAILS – As a leader, we must be the master of all details connected with our business. A major portion of our responsibilities involves training our team. The most effective method of training is through example. Another point to remember is that it is OUR business. We must never be “too busy” to do anything which may be required for our success. Of course, one key skill we must master is effective delegation and follow-up.
2. UNWILLINGNESS TO RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE – Humility is one of the “secret” keys to great leadership. Truly great leaders understand “The greatest among ye shall be the servant of all” and keep their egos on a tight leash. We must be willing to do anything we would ask another to do. To keep things in proper perspective, turn the pyramid organization chart upside down and take a close look at how many people are relying on you for support, training, and leadership.
3. EXPECTATION OF PAY FOR WHAT THEY “KNOW” INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT WHICH THEY KNOW – This attitude is a plague on society today. Knowledge in nice to have, but it is useless when we don’t DO something with it. It is too easy to think we are doing something useful when we are studying how to succeed rather than doing what we already know works. {Insert your own public school rant here, if you want.}
4. FEAR OF COMPETITION FROM FOLLOWERS – Have you ever stopped to consider how illogical some fears really are? In our business, we are constantly trying to recruit the best people we can find. If they are better than we are, great! They can teach us and help us build a stronger, more productive team. The whole idea of network marketing is to duplicate ourselves. If the copy turns out better than the original, Woo Hoo!
5. LACK OF IMAGINATION – Without imagination, how can we solve problems, grow, and improve as a leader? No matter how smart we are, life has a way of throwing new challenges our way.
6. SELFISHNESS – A guaranteed success killer. As professional leaders we never claim the credit for the success of our team. We take more pleasure in seeing our people receive recognition and awards than receiving them ourselves. We know that most folks will work harder for for commendation and recognition than they will for money alone.
7. INTEMPERANCE – This might seem to be an old-fashioned value, but it is still true that our teams do not respect a leader who can’t control his appetites or temper.
8. DISLOYALTY – Napoleon Hill said that perhaps this should have come at the head of the list. How can we expect our teams to follow us, or our upline leaders to support us if we are disloyal? Trust is a major key for effective team work. There’s not much else to say here.
9. EMPHASIS OF THE “AUTHORITY” OF LEADERSHIP – Also known as the “Fat Head Syndrome”, this is like #2 above. Leadership is not about commanding. That only works in emergency situations like combat or firefighting. As business leaders, we lead by encouraging and example; not by trying to instill fear in the hearts of our team mates. The need to lean on our “authority” indicates a weak self-image that we need to work on.
10. EMPHASIS OF TITLE – This is another indicator of our need for a weak self-image that we need to work on or an ego that needs to be reined in. As professional leaders, we really have no need for a “title” to earn the respect of our followers. The door to our office is open to all who wish to enter, and our working quarters are free from formality or ostentation.
These are among the more common of the causes of failure in leadership. Review this list frequently and make a concerted effort to avoid these leadership weaknesses. They have a tendency to sneak into our lives without much fanfare.
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