You can't improve on anything until you recognize what needs improving.

The following leadership flaws need to be recognized by every person on your management team. This will allow some self-evaluation and recognition that can lead to improved leadership performance throughout the company.

Failure to distinguish priorities and take action: There are always plenty of reasons not to make a decision, reasons to wait for more information, more options and more opinions. But real leaders display a consistent bias for action. People who don't make mistakes generally aren't doing anything.

Fail to anticipate sufficiently: A leader must have his finger on the pulse of his customers, the market and his employees. Ignoring any one of these three can be extremely detrimental. This means that "Shoot from the Hip" decision making  may at times be required but the decisions made are based on calculated risk  due to the leaders experience and foresight.

Poor sense of what will and won't work: This skill is directly experience related. It is often called scar tissue. A good leader draws on his experience. S. Kauffman stated that "Good Judgment comes from Experience and Experience comes from Bad Judgment". Experience enhances your sense of what will work when addressing any challenge. But, don't be afraid to listen to other opinions.

Failure to plan effectively and create buy-in: I have often heard CEOs state that strategic planning is a waste of time. I believe this attitude exists within some circles simply because the planning process these Nay Sayers have embraced has been totally ineffective due to the wrong process and poor execution. 

Planning is critical both short term and long term. For 2009, you may have to seriously consider contingency planning. Regardless, the plan must be owned by your management team and your employees. This requires engaging your employees in the process and insisting upon open and effective communication.

Poor communication -- Secrecy: "We can't tell the employees," this is sometimes the very first reaction I get from executive teams when the discussion revolves around sharing financial information or negative news and consequences. They defend this position with the argument that staff will be distracted, confused or simply unable to comprehend what is happening in the business. 

They forget that it is the employees of the organization that create profit. If you treat employees like uninformed incompetents, they will behave that way -- which means you are limiting their input and initiative.  It often amazes me what employees can do if you just let them do it. If you treat them like competent adults, they respond likewise. T

here is very little information, in my opinion, that must remain confidential and good leaders can identify those easily. Secrecy can have a connotation of dishonesty. Secrets make companies political, anxious and full of distrust.

Too much compassion: Compassion for employees should exist in every company. It is especially prevalent in privately held family owned businesses. However, it can be both and asset and a liability. Tolerating incompetence because of compassion does a disservice to employees that want to excel. This can actually cause good employees to leave or lower their level of competence.

Maximizing Leadership Effectiveness

Organizations that maximize success embrace the concept of "Team Leadership" and their managers are skilled at leading group problem-solving sessions maximizing collaboration across all functional units. A forum exists to educate and train managers on the problems and concerns of other functional departments.

Communication is kept at the "Adult" level and an explicit understanding of respect exists throughout the culture of the organization. This feeling of mutual respect, trust and maturity becomes the foundation for teamwork and problem solving.

Rick Johnson, expert speaker, wholesale distribution's "Leadership Strategist", founder of CEO Strategist, LLC a firm that has helped hundreds of clients create and maintain competitive advantage. Need a speaker for your next event, E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com.  Don't forget to check out the Lead Wolf Series that can help you put more profit into your business.

www.ceostrategist.com