The best leaders surround themselves with people who are willing to push back in a constructive manner if they have a different view of a situation. Photo: freepik.com.
Amanda Setili says the best leaders are the ones who realise they might not know all the answers and are ready to take others’ advice on which to base their final decisions.
We see it all the time, especially in large and successful organisations — senior executives being treated and perceived differently.
There is an implicit assumption that the further you climb up the leadership ladder, the more answers you have for each and every problem.
To make this incorrect assumption even more dangerous: Sometimes these leaders believe it, too.
In reality, every leader is a mere human being, subject to biases and flawed thinking, just like the rest of us.
A recent analysis of Wall Street investors suggested that they only needed to be right 54 per cent of the time to beat the market.
I wonder whether a similar number applies to a ‘’great’’ leader. Do they need to be right a little more than half the time?
Here’s what I’m driving at — it pays to be humble.
No matter how prestigious or successful the organisation you’re leading is, you are just a reasonably capable person willing to accept a great deal of responsibility.
We all have opinions, but at the end of the day, you will be responsible for making the decision and living with it.
This does not make you superhuman or infallible. It makes you responsible.
The ideal manner of behaving is to accept this responsibility and temper it with the wisdom to listen, to learn and to remain curious.
The best leaders accept that their first instinct may not be the correct one. They surround themselves with people who are willing to push back in a constructive manner if they have a different view of a situation.
I want to finish with some advice for those who interact with leaders on a regular basis: Don’t be too impressed.
Recognise that on any given day, the knowledge you possess may be just what they need to successfully navigate another decision.
Amanda Setili helps successful leaders and their teams agree on what needs to change and how to make it happen. She is the author of Fearless Growth: The New Rules to Stay Competitive, Foster Innovation, and Dominate Your Markets. Amanda can be contacted at www.setili.com. This article first appeared on Amanda’s Fearless Growth website.
