10 Signs A Leader Is In Over Their Head

All leaders will at some point or another be in over their heads.  We will all reach a point where our responsibilities outpace our competence, connections and charisma.  It is humbling to say the least.

I was reminded of this when I read an excerpt from Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin’s excellent book Return Of The King: LeBron James, The Cleveland Cavaliers And The Greatest Comeback In NBA History.  The following section details an uncomfortable moment in David Blatt’s coaching reign which lasted just over a year.

“The sideways glances met each other around the huddle.  David Platt was sitting in the middle, sliding a pen over his grease board, instructing Shawn Marion where to go on the important offensive set that was about to take place.  Marion, however, was not in the game and had not been told to check in.  Blatt had simply lost track.

The players noticed things like this happening during the coach’s first few months on the job.  Sometimes he would have the same player in two two places when he drew up plays, or assign the same man two different assignments on defense.  Other times his hands were shaking as he drew the lines, sometimes he let assistant coaches come to the center of the huddle to draw up plays.  There would be times when LeBron James would dispute the strategy.  Blatt didn’t just have to make a choice on what to run, he had to sell it to James.  And mental mistakes, especially as they piled up, did not help the pitch.”

As I read this account, I gleaned 10 Signs A Leader Is In Over Their Head:

1. There Is Constant Confusion – “The sideways glances met each other around the huddle.”
2. There Is No Situational Awareness – “Marion, however, was not in the game and had not been told to check in.  Blatt had simply lost track.”
3. You Get Off To A Bad Start – “The players noticed things like this happening during the coach’s first few months on the job.”
4.  There Is Poor Or Incompetent Decisions Being Made – “he would have the same player in two two places when he drew up plays, or assign the same man two different assignments on defense.”
5. You Show Fear And Uncertainty – “his hands were shaking as he drew the lines”
6. Others Must Compensate For You – “sometimes he let assistant coaches come to the center of the huddle to draw up plays.”
7. Top Leaders Are Against You – “There would be times when LeBron James would dispute the strategy.”
8. Your Ideas Must Be Sold Rather Than Trusted – “Blatt didn’t just have to make a choice on what to run, he had to sell it to James.”
9. Mistakes Keep Piling Up – “mental mistakes, especially as they piled up”
10. You Have Lost Credibility –  “he had to sell it to James.  And mental mistakes, especially as they piled up, did not help the pitch.”

This is sobering.  What is one thing you learned from this list which will make you a better leader?

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