Whether you’re a first-time manager, a senior executive, or a CEO , there may come a time in your leadership when you feel you’ve reached the limits of your own leadership abilities. You may realize you’re in over your head, or begin questioning your own capabilities, or feel overwhelmed or burdened by all that you need to do and questioning how you can get it done.
It can be a devastating feeling, but there are steps you can take to work through it. Here are the best approaches when you hit a leadership wall:
Understand and admit your limitations. Most leaders are compelled to mask their limitations, wanting others to think they know it all or they can do it all. But the harder you try to conceal your limitations, the more they’ll catch. up with you. I am a big believer what we don’t own ends up owning us. And you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where everyone but you is aware of your limitations.
Size up the situation. Awareness is an important leadership skill. Know how to evaluate and asses the state of affairs. As the leader, do you need to cut back or find a way to push ahead?
Delegate to the talented. If you can’t do what is expected of you, follow the cue of the best leaders and surround yourself with talented people who can do it for you. Delegate to those who are equipped to bridge the gap between your limits and the demands of what needs to get done.
Seek good guidance. Smart leaders will seek out guidance and counsel, usually from a mentor or a coach. Find someone you respect who can guide you with the wisdom and insight that not only help you steer through the current situation but also grow and develop your leadership capacities.
Get schooled. It’s never too late to learn what you need to know. When you find a gap in your knowledge, address it by reading books or taking classes. The willingness to keep learning is a great sign of leadership—it shows that you’ve never stopped being a student, that you have an inquisitive mind. The worst leaders, on the other hand, are grounded in their own ego, acting as if they know everything even though everyone around them knows otherwise.
Great leadership is a constant process of growth and development, and it takes the best kind of leadership to be able to admit that what got you where you are won’t get you where you need to go.
Every leader is better suited for some roles and capacities than others. Being able to admit it when you’re at the limit of your knowledge and skill takes a humble heart, but it’s essential to success.
Lead from within: Reaching the limit of your leadership capabilities is not a failure but the first step in taking yourself to the next level.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
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Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.