There are many successful managers who have the skills and expertise to drive results and achieve success in their roles. However, not all of these managers are able to transition from successful managers to great leaders.
Here are five reasons why so many successful managers fail to become great leaders:
Lack of vision: Great leaders are able to set a clear direction and inspire others to follow. On the other hand, successful managers provide the details for direction. If you get stuck as a manager and don’t rise above the details to have a clear vision, you will fail to become a great leader.
Ineffective coaching: Great leaders are able to help their team members solve problems. However, successful managers tend to give answers rather than help their team find solutions. If you are unable to coach others as a manager, you will fail to become a great leader.
Lack of people development: Great leaders understand the importance of investing in their team’s development and providing opportunities for growth and advancement. On the other hand, successful managers prioritize projects over people. If you get stuck on concentrating only on project and forgo developing your people, you will fail to become a great leader.
Relying too much on giving answers: Great leaders value asking questions, seek input and foster collaboration. However, successful managers pride themselves on having answers. To become a great leader, you must be willing to ask questions and seek input from your team, otherwise you will fail to become a great leader.
Inability to inspire: Great leaders are able to inspire their team to achieve greatness. On the other hand, successful managers are more comfortable with comforting rather than inspiring. To become a great leader, you must be able to inspire and motivate your team, otherwise you fail to become a great leader.
Successful managers who fail to become great leaders may struggle to pivot their mindset and develop the skills necessary for leadership. To succeed in becoming a great leader, it’s important to address areas such as vision, coaching, people development, asking questions, and inspiring. By developing these traits, managers can make the transition to becoming great leaders.
Lead From Within: Great leadership is not about achieving individual success, but rather about empowering and inspiring others to achieve success as a team.
#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
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.