Leadership In The 21st Century – Six Deadly Sins

Jack Welch Management Institute

There is much to be learned from exploring what leaders commonly get wrong, for it is in their failures that leaders often have the most impact, both on individuals and organizations. - Jack Welch

Jack Welch

Thus, we ask you to consider the following material with a critical eye. Do any sins apply to your own behaviors? If so, such new self-awareness is the first step to corrective action. And for those of you who are not yet leaders, again, careful scrutiny is advised. Understanding where your own leaders, now or at any earlier point in your career, might have gone awry is an insight that could serve you well in the future. Because this information is built on the belief that being a leader is perhaps the hardest challenge any of us will ever face. No matter how long we work at it, practicing the right behavior is a never-ending task. Knowing – and avoiding – the wrong behavior is a never-ending task, too. Thus, we offer the following:

Leadership Sin #1: Not Giving Self-confidence its Due

Self-confidence is the lifeblood of success. They try new things, offer ideas, exude positive energy, and cooperate with their colleagues instead of surreptitiously attempting to bring them down. When they lack self-confidence, it's just the opposite. They spread negativity with every word and gesture.

But all too often leaders ignore (or neglect) this very basic fact of the human condition. Why is anyone's guess. Perhaps they just don't understand that it is part of their job to instill self-confidence in their people. It may even be said that it is their first job. You cannot unleash the creative power of individuals who doubt themselves.

Fortunately, some people seem to be born with self-confidence. Others gain it from life and work experience and come to a company fully loaded. Regardless, leaders can never stop pouring self-confidence into their teams. The ways to do so are myriad. Make sure goals are challenging – but achievable. Give effusive positive feedback. Remind your direct reports of what they do right.

We're not saying that leaders should blindly extol and exalt. People know when they're being gamed. But good leaders work relentlessly to find ways to instill self-confidence in those around them. They know it's the gift that never stops giving.

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TotalPicture Radio podcast with Noel Tichy, Academic Director of the Jack Welch Management Institute at Chancellor University. .