3 Bad Habits Leaders Should Break
Some people set their sites on being a leader or attaining leadership roles. They want to be the person who takes charge and guides others. Then there are other people who find themselves in leadership roles who did not actually want it. These reluctant leaders don’t necessarily see themselves as leaders but circumstances or necessity dictates that they’ve got to step up and lead or they just have a natural quality about them that drives them into leadership roles. Either way, all potential leaders bring more than positive skills to the plate.
Bad Habits Needs to be Broken
Who doesn't have a bad habit that needs to be broken? I can't imagine there are many people who would not confess to having a bad habit or two. Too much fast food, perhaps? Or maybe binge-watching Netflix? Or one of many other habits that don’t always serve us well. Leaders have bad habits too, even when they are leading others. Bad habits don't keep you from being a good leader but, breaking bad habits can make you a better leader. Breaking bad habits does more than reduce the negativity in your life, it molds you into a better and more effective leader.
Learning During the Process
Losing the bad habit is one thing, but what you learn in the process is a secondary benefit. Dropping the bad habit itself will make you healthier but overcoming the mindset and behaviors that accompany the bad habit is equally beneficial. Example: Dropping the fast-food habit will make your body healthier. Dropping the thoughts and behaviors associated with buying and eating fast food goes even further to make you a better leader because you can model and teach these skill sets. Here are three (3) bad habits you can afford to break.
1. Break the Complaining Habit
Complaining is a form of passive aggression and few people really enjoy hearing it. Complaining has no room in a leader's tool kit. Complaining is an immature way to manage stress and we all do it. Sure, recognizing that something isn’t right is important. Analyzing things to learn from them does matter but going on and on about it without making any necessary changes is worthless. Venting has its place in the right context but complaining wears people out and/or gets them riled up. Solving problems and finding solutions to whatever needs to be changed is the answer. Great leaders rarely complain about things unless it is to tackle them and do what needs to be done to improve the situation.
2. Break the Gossiping Habit
One of the best ways to damage your leadership is to gossip. Talking about others for no other reason than to talk, doesn’t do anyone any good. As the saying goes - snuffing out someone else’s light doesn’t make yours shine brighter. Dropping the gossip habit is a bad habit that all good leaders need to work on to break. One way that you can avoid gossip is by avoiding groups or people who tend to do it. You can also avoid it by removing yourself from conversations that include gossip. You can also set the standard with the people you lead and those you influence on and off duty by being an example when you remove yourself from those situations.
3. Break the Avoidance Habit
When you think about problems that were solvers, they were often solved by leaders or people with strong leadership qualities. Leaders like to get things done. That’s part of what makes them leaders. They don’t wait to be told that something needs to get done and they don't wait to see how to get it done. They recognize and see what needs to be taken care of and take initiative to do it. They jump in the mud with everyone to get things done. If something is difficult, they find help. If something is too complicated, they seek guidance. Leaders don’t procrastinate and they don’t avoid difficulty. This includes avoiding difficult tasks, avoiding difficult conversations, and avoiding challenges. Finding ways to drop the avoidance habit helps make leaders appear more confident and knowledgeable and also it makes them more effective.
It's a Good Starting Point
Whether you are placed in a leadership position by choice or by chance, consider any bad habits that you may have to break to help improve your job performance. Use these three as a good starting point. These are bad habits that the majority of people have to work on. Breaking these three habits can help transform your effectiveness as a leader on and off duty and make your overall life experience much better.
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