Some people are focused to becoming a leader. They want to be in a leadership role and take charge. Other people find themselves in leadership roles reluctantly. They don’t necessarily see themselves as leaders but circumstances or necessity dictates that they’ve got to step up and lead. Either way, both potential leaders bring more than positive skills to the plate.
We’ve all got habits that we need to break. Too much fast food. Binge watching Netflix and other habits don’t always serve us. Leaders, like everyone else have bad habits too, even when they are leading others. So, it is important to realize that breaking bad habits not only makes you a better leader, but it also reduces negativity and stress in everyday life as well.
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 farther to making you a better leader because you can model and teach these skill sets.
Here are 3 bad habits you can break that will make a you a better leader:
1. Break the complaining habit- Complaining is a form of passive aggression, and is an immature way to manage stress. Sure, recognizing that something isn’t right is important. Analyzing things for their merit matters but going on and on about it without making changes is worthless. Venting has its place in the right context but complaining wears people out and gets them riled up. Solving problems and finding solutions to whatever needs to be changed is the answer. Effective leadership is not about complaining, it is being aware of the problems, creating a plan to deal with it and take action to get things back on the right course.
2. Break the gossiping habit- The surest way to sabotage your road to being an effective leader is to gossip. Talking about others behind their backs 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 let go of. You can avoid gossip by refusing to speak negatively about others as part of your personal standard. One of the way is to 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 making it a policy not to gossip.
3. Break the avoidance habit- Leaders get things done. That’s why they’re leaders. Leaders don’t wait to be told what needs to be done. They recognize and see what needs to be taken care of and take initiative to do it. If something is difficult, they find help. If something is too complicated, they seek guidance. Leaders don’t procrastinate and they don’t avoid doing what needs to get done. This includes avoiding tasks, avoiding difficult conversations, and avoiding challenges. Dropping the avoidance habit helps make leaders more consistent and effective.
End Result
Whether you are asking to lead or being pushed into it, you might have some habits worth breaking before you do. Breaking these habits can help transform your effectiveness as a leader on and off duty and make your overall life experience much better.