Jojo Bejo

Don’t worry if you think you are not a ‘great leader,’

Naturally. It’s perfectly fine to feel that there are others out there better suited to leadership roles and in fact, few of us see ourselves as being natural-born leaders until we are thrust into the role.

The good news is that most leaders are developed rather than born, so you can learn the required skills “on the job.” Part of this will include doing research, which you are currently doing… well done!

However, what doesn’t help matters is that there is a lot of misinformation out there that makes it more difficult for us. There are several popular leadership theories that only serve to guide us down the wrong path. Here are a couple of the most heinous…

Being a Leader does not Involve Shouting

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One thing that people think is that being a leader means ‘being in charge’ and that this in turn means stamping down their authority and shouting at people to reprimand them when necessary.

But while this might have been true in the 50s, it’s a wildly outdated approach today. For starters, shouting simply makes you appear out of control and emotional – rather than calm and collected.

Moreover, shouting suggests that you are in charge of someone else; you aren’t. All you are is in a position where you get to choose the next course of action. This is due to an agreement between you and the person you are instructing, and they can choose to terminate that agreement at any time, as can you. Treat people with respect, even when they’re not listening to reason.

Leaders Should be ‘One of the Guys’

Conversely, though, it is not pertinent to be ‘mates’ with your team. While that might sound appealing, the reality is that it will lead to more problems. It makes it harder when you have to make tough decisions, it can lead to accusations that your personal feelings are getting in the way and it can sometimes cross a line into disrespect. Be friendly but try to separate business and pleasure at least in the office.

Being a Leader Means Being Bold and Brave

Being a leader does not require being bold and courageous. It doesn’t mean you have to have broad shoulders and a wide chest, or a lot of self-assurance.

All leaders (except Optimus Prime) are human, which means they have the same deficiencies, character flaws, and self-doubt as anyone else. It’s not just who you are, but what you do that makes you a leader!