The Worst Leadership Mistakes You Can Make

Leaders must juggle many requirements to get the job done. They have to be willing to set an example, provide aid to their team, and take responsibility. Yet not all leaders are successful in equal measure.

Understanding how you interact with your employees and whether they feel supported by you is an essential part of being a good leader. Here are some of the most common leadership blunders:

No Concern For People

The best leaders are deeply concerned about their employees’ well-being. They take the time to get to know them personally and be more than just a boss to them.

Unwilling to Admit Mistakes

A great leader recognizes when they are mistaken and is not afraid to admit it. It communicates a sense of humility that your employees will respect and value. It also demonstrates that you care about them enough to be honest with them, even if it hurts your pride.

Disliked by Peers

Leaders who are well-liked by their followers will have little trouble getting things done on time because they can use their reputation as a motivator to get things done the first time correctly. A good leader must work hard to earn the respect of their followers by demonstrating integrity, trustworthiness, fairness, and trustworthiness.

Poor Communicator

A great leader must communicate with their followers effectively and efficiently. This means they will take the time to listen to their employees to understand. Leaders who fail to communicate effectively frequently leave their followers frustrated and confused, leading to low morale and poor performance.

Inaccessible

Leaders who are not approachable are often challenging to work with because their employees never know what their bosses will do next. Employees require a predictable leader to feel secure in their jobs, so leaders must be consistent in their decisions and how they treat their employees if they want them to perform at peak levels.

Failure to Problem Solve

The best leaders can solve their problems, and they are willing to listen to their employees’ solutions. They do not become defensive when challenged because they understand how important it is for them to remain open-minded to the various suggestions. Leaders who ignore their employees’ requests miss out on great ideas and demonstrate a lack of respect for those who work for them.

About Wale Seriki

Wale Seriki is an international businessman and leader based in Lagos, Nigeria. The son of a prominent Nigerian political leader, Wale was raised to put the needs of others before his own. From early on, he understood that leaders work for their people—not the other way around.

He has always been surrounded by elections and became fascinated with politics. At only seven years of age, he watched as his father ran for senate and became the Chairman of the Lagos State Sport Council. Learning through osmosis, he took what he learned from observation and applied it to his life—in high school, he was even voted Homecoming King! As the years progressed, Wale relished in the opportunity to take the skills and lessons learned during his childhood and apply them to his own career. Wale is currently taking online courses at The University of Arizona.

When he’s not diligently working to be the best leader possible, Wale can be found clearing his mind with a few rounds of golf. Like many of the best things in his life, his love for the sport stems from his childhood. One of his happiest memories was being taught how to play by his father and uncle.

For more information on Wale Seriki, be sure to visit his blog!