4 Leadership Assumptions to Avoid

During some of my IMPACT Coaching sessions last week, I saw a pattern where experienced leaders fell into the Assumption Trap. You know what happens when you assume… that’s right you make an A$$ out of U and ME. But it is so easy to fall into the Assumption Trap, probably even more so for the experienced leader.
 
We will take a look at four common assumptions made by leaders.
 
Assumption 1: Because I said to do it, they will do it.
In your best imitation of Captain Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation you told your manager what you need and finish with a “Make it so…” and it doesn’t happen.
 
It’s easy to get comfortable with your team. You know each other. They do a great job. They are proactive. We are on the same page. Then, on some days, they nod at you as if they understand and it never gets put into place.
 
A Leadership Tool I use to help in this area I call Connecting the Whys. It is an essential tool used in creating a shared vision but also one essential in IMPACT Teams and Engaged Leadership.
 
We will touch on Connecting the Whys as we look at the next two Leadership Assumptions that are typically buried in this first one. 
 
You need to Connect the Whys.
 
Assumption 2: They understand what success looks like.
Did you verify with them that when you said “Make it so” that they understood what “SO” means? Is their picture of “SO” the same as your “SO”?
 
Did you deliver a suggestion or possibly a nice to have? Did you explain it was urgent or something that can happen when they get around to it? Did you explain the WHY?
 
Just because it is clear in your mind doesn't mean it translated the same way to them. In my 3 Pillars of Impact, the 2nd Pillar is Expect Excellence in yourself and others. One of the activities we do is to identify, in detail, what success looks like for each of your team members.
 
It’s amazing how when you ask a leader if their team member knows what success looks like they say yes, but when you follow that up with if I ask them to put it down on paper, without you in the room, will they say yes… they get quiet.
 
You need to create understanding.

Assumption 3: Since they say they understand, then we must be aligned.
Just because they understand doesn’t mean they agree. Just because they may agree with you doesn’t mean that they are aligned on what needs to happen and how it needs to happen.
 
Back to the Picard reference, even though you both understand what the “SO” means, it doesn’t mean you are aligned about how to make “SO” happen.
 
As a leader, you need an understanding first on the importance of how the “SO” looks. If it’s not that important, then you must be prepared to accept their “SO” even if it doesn’t look like your “SO.” If it is important, the onus is on you to make sure you have alignment on what is “good enough”. You then must verify that expectations are established, understood and that there is clarity around the end-result.
 
You need to make sure you have alignment.

Assumption 4: Because you know each other well, you don’t have to change how you lead.
“They know me."
"They know what I mean."
"They know how I operate.”
Sound familiar?
 
When we get comfortable with relationships or with positions, it’s easy to think things will move forward with momentum. That we have it all under control and that we know what we are doing.
 
But that is the biggest Leadership Trap of all… we think we arrived, and that leadership comes naturally.
 
In IMPACT Leadership, we remind people that Leadership is not about you, but about those you lead. You need to flex your leadership style based upon what is needed by your team member. (Next week, I will talk more about IMPACT Leadership)
 
It’s not about how WE like to operate, it’s about what they need to be successful. Sometimes they simply need to be empowered to get it done. Other times, when they lack confidence because something is new or they lack some critical skills, we need to be more directive with our leadership approach. Leadership is not a one size fits all approach.
 
Leaders need to flex their approach to what is needed to help the team succeed.
 
Leaders need to be on the lookout for the Assumption Trap… it happens to new and experienced leaders alike. As a leader, you need to be vigilant so that you don’t make an A$$ out of U and ME, Beyond Today.

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