Leadership Mistake: 4 Mistakes Leaders Make [VIDEO]

“If you're highly successful, your achievements are obvious. It's more novel and inspiring for others to learn about your mistakes.” (Harvard Business Review) As a leader, this idea goes against our instinctive leadership approach – that our mistakes would teach people more about leadership over the successes we've had.

Here are four mistakes that I have made and the lessons that I have learned from them.

1. I believed asking for help was a sign of weakness.

The first mistake I made was believing that asking for help was a sign of weakness. In reality, asking for help is actually a sign of strength for a leader. It puts you in a position of knowing that there is something you don't know and needing to rely on somebody else who does know.

What I’ve learned? Wise leaders seek counsel.

2. I believed fast was better.

The second mistake I made was believing that fast was better. When you are going fast all the time, you will inevitably miss details, people, and opportunities. And your leadership will have a negative impact on the people you lead.

What I’ve learned? Speed kills. Pace and consistency lead to leadership success. When pace and consistency are applied to allow people to join you and move forward with you, you will find the greatest opportunities for leadership success.

3. I believed I was alone. I was not enough.

This third mistake is a bit personal to me. I often believed that I was alone and not enough.

What I’ve learned? A circle of a few trusted friends is much better than a stadium of casual friendships to influence your leadership. Being in community with a few key people has actually made me a better leader.

4. I believed my identity was shaped by success.

The fourth mistake I made in leadership is believing that my identity and my success were tied together. You might be in a business, a nonprofit, or a church where you have grown 20%, 50%, or 70%. You can't sustain that over 30 years or even just 10 years. Those you try to carry with you will experience burnout and face the fatigue of your leadership.

What I’ve learned? The core of who we are cannot be rooted in our present success. It will not sustain us, and it will not sustain the people that we are leading.

We would love to learn from you! Comment below with the mistakes you have made in leadership and what you learned from them.

For more leadership mistakes, read “The Nine Mistakes I Told Myself I Would Never Make... But Did.” Contact us to learn how our experienced coaches can assist you in growing your leadership.

Billy Dunn is a Senior Consultant at The Center Consulting Group and has over 20 years of church and nonprofit leadership experience. He serves as the Character Coach for the Lehigh University Men’s Basketball team and the Director of Ministry Leadership for Word FM. Billy has assisted with the launch of a number of nonprofit organizations and has worked with organizations and ministries across the world. Billy has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and brings experience in the areas of leading change, leadership coaching, resource development, church growth planning, and strategic thinking and planning.