Leadership in a Vacuum
Dr. David Rafeedie
Bill was the kind of leader that everyone wanted to emulate. He was quick thinking and cool under fire. His expertise was uncommon. Fortunately for the team and the organization he was constantly correcting errors and keeping the “ship” heading in the right direction. And his team loved him. They appreciated all they were learning from him, and they held him in high esteem—at least that is Bill’s perspective. That is how Bill saw himself.
His team, on the other hand, saw Bill as a micro-manager not open to new and different ideas. In their view, he was holding the team and the organization back. He had reached his capacity but didn’t know it. Instead of expanding his capacity by collaborating with the team or seeking outside help, Bill kept a tight reign on things by making sure everything was done his way. His team liked him as a person but didn’t appreciate his leadership. There was a high turn over on the team. Bill’s response to the turnover—"we prepared them for their future.”
Bill, of course, doesn’t have a clue as to how his team feels or of his negative impact on them and the organization. He is incapable of processing constructive criticism well, and so he doesn’t grow. He lives and works in the vacuum of self-unawareness.
Being self-unaware is a childlike characteristic. Most kids are self-unaware, but as they grow, they learn through interaction with their parents and friends to see themselves in a more objective light and want to change and grow in areas where growth is needed. This kind of growth is a natural process for most people.
For a leader, self-unawareness is a barrier that will hinder everything she or he does. In Luke 4:23, Jesus quotes an ancient proverb, “Physician, heal yourself.” For a leader, a proverb could be, “Leader, know yourself.” If a leader does not know her strengths and soft spots, she will not be able to lead others effectively because her ignorance of self will be evident to everyone, and that impacts respect and trust.
Everyone has blind spots. It takes courage to allow others, who see your blind spots, to speak into them for you. When that happens, your blind spots become visible, and you can then begin the process of change. Don’t view constructive criticism as an attack; view it as help from a friend or colleague. Growth is waiting on the other side of constructive criticism.
Leading a team or an organization is a complex endeavor. You must know the competitive environment you function within. You must be aware of the internal and external cultural boundaries. You need healthy leadership behaviors to help your team operate synergistically to move your organization above the competition. You must know yourself to maximize your efforts to reach your target. If you know yourself well, you can capitalize on your strengths and have a strategy to mitigate your weaknesses.
How do you know when you are self-unaware and what do you do about it? Here are five steps you can take to strengthen yourself and your leadership.
Ask! Ask a trusted person in your life, who will have the courage to be honest, what they see as weaknesses in your leadership or personality style. It is even better if you have more than one trusted person you can ask.
Listen carefully to what they have to say.
Be intentional about thinking before doing. Measure your thoughts before you act or make a decision to ensure you are not falling into a negative habit.
Ask those you have consulted for accountability. If they see or hear you slip into an area you want to change, give them permission to let you know.
Have patience with yourself. Changing embedded thought patterns and behavioral traits take time. It doesn’t happen overnight.
As a Harrison Solutions Consultant and Accredited Coach, I can help you identify blind spots and develop strategies to bring them into the light and turn them into strengths.
Coaching can make a real difference quickly when wanting to develop strategies for personal and leadership change. Email me at info@davidthecoach.com and let’s have a conversation to see if I can help you or your team.