The Top 10 Leadership Mistakes

I have been actively involved in and studying the subject of leadership for 25 years.  Whether it is a church, school, business, non-profit, sports team, or your local home owners association, I have identified trends that cross all disciplines.  The following are the Top 10 mistakes I have witnessed leaders consistently make.

1. Lack Of Character – The hardest person to lead is yourself.  Often, a leader’s talent, skill, and charisma will take them where their character cannot sustain them.
2. Ignoring Self-Development – A lack of a personal growth plan results in leadership that is limited and unsustainable in an advancing culture.
3. Positional Over Servant Leadership – Leaders often think their position or title means people are there to serve them.  This is a perverted view of leadership.  The position actually exists to serve the people.
4. Self-Reliance – Great leaders build great teams.
5. Greed Over Generosity – Leaders can become selfish and leverage their positions to gain influence, status, and wealth.  Leaders who last are the ones who create and enhance a culture of generosity.
6. Minimizing The Next Generation – Leaders who view younger people as too inexperienced, too irresponsible, and too incapable of leadership do so at their own demise.  Few, if any, new thoughts or ideas come from people over the age of 45. 
7. Not Properly Leveraging High Capacity Individuals – I see this often in church environments.  Pastors, if you do not know who your top givers are and are developing them, enlisting them, and leveraging their resources and intellect accordingly, you are greatly reducing the impact of your ministry.
8. Resisting Change – “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.”  – General Eric Shinseki, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army.  There is nothing else needed to say.
9. Neutralizing Mavericks – When someone doesn’t fit into your mold, that is probably a very good thing. These individuals take your organization into new areas of influence.
10. Selecting New Over Fresh – Mobility is overrated.  The grass may look greener on the other side but that is often because it sits on top of a septic tank.  The best leaders have longevity and seek to make things fresh rather than quitting to seek different options.
11. Bonus – Lack Of Inspiration – The world is dying for inspiration.

Does any of this list describe you or members of your team?  If so, just consider this a friendly nudge to push you in a positive direction.

What leadership mistakes did I miss that would have made your Top 10?