This month, I want us to look at some very important aspects of leadership—including why leaders fail. But I also want to try and equip you with some lessons I have learned over the years, about being a leader. For this reason, every Thursday this month, I will share one of my leadership tips. If you are just beginning your leadership journey, it is my hope that these will give you some practical help in fully embracing your current role. Or, if you’ve been leading for a while that they will assist you as you begin empowering others to lead.
The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.
—Ralph Nader
Leadership Tip #9: Don’t Be Afraid To Say “I Don’t Know”
When we first become leaders, our instinct is to believe that we have to know more and do better than our team—always. And in an aspirational sense, it is true. If we aren’t seeking to know as much as we can about our field, and we aren’t giving our best, then how can we expect those we lead to do the same?
But in reality, no matter how good of a leader we are, we’re still human. We are going to make mistakes, and as hard as it may be to swallow—we won’t always have the answer. The good news is that these times do not have to label us as failures. Rather, it is what we do with them that lead us and our team to succeed or fail.
From experience, I have learned that the times I admitted I did not have the answer, were actually powerful opportunities to empower my team. By giving them the chance to work together, and to use their knowledge and talents, I enabled them to grow as leaders and invited them into a deeper sense of ownership in our ministry.
Where some may have thought this weakened me as a leader, by giving my team more say and by admitting I didn’t have the answer, I found that this actually strengthened my leadership. When I sought to grow my team members’ influence, they looked to me for more opportunity. If you are in a situation in your leadership where you don’t have all the answers, don’t panic (that will weaken your leadership). Humbly, look to the talents represented in your team, and invite into the situation those who can help solve your problem.
When was the last time, as a leader, you admitted “I don’t know?”
Where might it be a good idea to admit this in your life?
Would you like more from Melissaschlies.com delivered to your inbox?
If so, subscribe here.
