Leadership is the linchpin of business success. It can also be the missing element holding your company back. As a leader, your business will never grow beyond you because the chokehold on any business is always the psychology and skill set of the leader.
Far too many leaders are held back by false or limiting beliefs that prevent them from reaching their full potential. If you feel like you are constantly struggling uphill, your company isn’t growing, or your team isn’t engaged, then it is time to reexamine your leadership and your mindset. You might be buying into a common leadership myth without even knowing it.
The best leaders don’t just work harder; they think differently. They challenge their preconceived notions, think outside the box and accept failures as opportunities for growth.
In this blog, we break down five of the most common leadership myths. You can’t get to where you want to go unless you are honest with yourself about where you are now. By recognizing the limiting beliefs that are holding you back, you can replace them with empowering thoughts and break through barriers. If you are ready to step up your leadership and take your team to the next level, keep reading.
Myth #1: Leadership is something you are born with
When we think of great leaders like Winston Churchill or Oprah Winfrey, we often assume they have always had innate leadership qualities. We tend to believe that leaders are born, but the reality is that leaders are made. Leadership is a set of skills that you can learn, practice and develop like any other attribute.
Winston Churchill developed leadership skills through challenges and failures while serving as an officer in the British military. He was heavily criticized for his role in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign during WWI. Instead of retreating and giving up on public service, he used his failure to refine his decision-making abilities. Because of this major setback, he became an expert at making confident choices and handling criticism with grace.
Churchill was a voracious reader. He worked hard to understand history, politics, and military strategy. He developed his public speaking skills through relentless study and practice, spending hours writing and rewriting speeches and practicing in front of the mirror. He was born with a slight speech impediment but worked hard to overcome it and perfect his oration, turning a weakness into a strength.
Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty. She became one of the world’s most influential media and business leaders through life experiences, resilience and hard work. Early in her career, she honed her communication skills as a news anchor. She was fired from her first news anchor job because her bosses felt her style was too emotional. Instead of giving up, she saw her failure as an opportunity and shifted to a daytime talk show where she thrived.
Throughout her career, Oprah sought out mentors and role models to help her develop stronger leadership skills. Maya Angelou was a close friend and mentor of Oprah’s, helping her find her words and power and navigate leadership and fame with grace. Oprah also fostered relationships with Barbara Walters and Nelson Mandela, learning from their experiences and wisdom. Truly great leaders understand that leadership requires a life-long commitment to learning and growth, and they work hard to hone their skills.
Myth #2: You are not enough
Our beliefs are stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what is possible in our future. The problem is that most of our beliefs are generalizations about our past, and we may not even be aware of how they impact our lives. Limiting beliefs can cause us to miss out on what we want most and stifle our growth.
Examples of limiting beliefs that can hold you back as a leader are thoughts such as “I am not smart enough,” “I don’t have enough resources for that,” “I’ll never have enough money to accomplish my goals” or “People don’t like or respect me.” You don’t have to be held back by these thoughts. You can replace limiting beliefs with new, empowering ones.
“The only thing that’s keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself.”
Sara Blakely wanted to become a lawyer but failed the LSAT twice. Instead, she took a job selling fax machines door to door. One day, she had the idea to create comfortable, seamless women’s shapewear. She only had $5,000 in savings, but she used it to start pursuing her idea. She had no money and no experience in fashion, marketing or manufacturing.
She was rejected over and over and over again, but she persisted because she believed in herself and her idea. She finally found someone willing to produce her product. Then, she personally demonstrated her product in a restroom to secure a deal with Neiman Marcus. Her product was eventually featured among Oprah’s favorites, skyrocketing her to success. Spanx became a household name, and Sara Blakely became the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire.
Sara didn’t have resources, experience or money, but she believed that with hard work and perseverance, she could build a company, and she did.
Myth #3: Leaders have to be perfect
We get it. You are leading a team, you are responsible for people, and your coworkers are looking to you for leadership. You don’t want to make a mistake. But feeling like you have to be perfect will actually prevent you from being your best self.
“Perfection is the lowest standard in the world because it is impossible to achieve.”
As a leader, you need to focus on progress, not perfection. Perfection doesn’t leave room for growth, and someone who feels like they are perfect won’t have the hunger to do more, be more, give more or grow more. Instead of trying to avoid mistakes, leaders fail fast, learn fast and keep moving forward. If you are afraid to make mistakes, you won’t take action. Don’t wait until you feel ready to do something. Imperfect action leads to results, learning and growth.
Influential leaders are willing to be authentic and vulnerable. Authenticity builds trust. Instead of pretending you know the answer to everything, say, “I don’t know the answer to that, but we will figure it out together.”
“People don’t connect with perfection; they connect with authenticity.”
Myth #4: A leader has to have all the answers
We discussed how being authentic and vulnerable can open the door to greater connection and influence. Acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers has another powerful impact—it forces you to ask questions.
Asking the right questions is a springboard to learning and growth. Your primary question is the question that you ask yourself the most in life. It is the question that is running in the back of your mind all the time, though you may not even realize it is nagging at you. For many people, their primary question is negative.
Why am I always messing up?
Why doesn’t anything ever seem to go my way?
Our brains will look for answers to the questions we ask. So, if these are the questions occupying your thoughts, your brain will come up with lots of reasons that you are failing. That will just lead to more failure.
Instead, primary questions can look like this:
What more can I learn?
How can I make myself better?
How can I better serve my team?
When you ask yourself these kinds of questions, you will use your brain power and energy to find new ways to grow, learn and serve.
“The primary question you ask in your business, your relationship, and your health will determine your outcomes far greater than any goal.”
Not knowing all the answers isn’t a failure. On the contrary, asking the right questions is the answer.
Myth #5: Leadership is all about position
The world is full of ambitious leaders trying to climb the corporate ladder. People who feel like getting to the next step or obtaining a more prestigious position will give them more power or authority. The truth is that leadership isn’t about titles or positions. True leadership is all about influencing people; it is the ability to inspire and move people to action.
You don’t have to hold a formal position to have a significant impact. However, you do have to understand the nature of leadership and learn the skills of influence. Leaders empower others, take responsibility and take decisive action.
Malala Yousafzai stood up to the Taliban as a teenage girl in Pakistan. Even after she was shot, she continued to fight for the right of girls to get an education. Without a formal role or political position, she became a global advocate for education, won a Nobel Peace Prize and influenced public policy around the world.
You don’t have to be a CEO, a politician or even an adult to have an impact on the world. You can make a difference in your home, company and community. It is all about stepping up, taking action and serving a greater good.
“Don’t wait for permission to lead. Step up and be the example.”
Conclusion
Like a muscle, leadership is a skill that must be exercised. Athletes have trainers, and leaders can benefit from experienced, knowledgeable coaches as well. Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and Serena Williams all utilized mentors, business coaches or life coaches to help them learn leadership skills and develop a peak mindset.
Coaching for leadership development can help you identify the limiting beliefs and leadership myths preventing you from taking your business to the next level. You will learn how to break free from the thoughts holding you back and craft a new, empowering story that will drive your progress. Today is the time to take control of your future by embracing your leadership potential.
Infographic
Leadership is often perceived as an innate talent, but it’s actually a skill that can be developed with practice and dedication. Several myths frequently hinder the growth of aspiring leaders. This infographic explores five widespread misconceptions about leadership and their impact.
