Those are the times when we most need to step up as leaders. Times of crisis can be an absolute playground for your amygdala. Economic upheaval. The leader yourself. There will always be more things competing for your attention than you have time and energy to do. To that purpose, it will be necessary to show respect to others, as well as empathy and the defense of those ideals which have previously achieved group identi… All of that wrapped up into a bundle of challenges that can tie the leader into knots if you let it. So, it’s essential to be aware of cultural nuances and make adjustments as needed. It means tough conversations. Subscribe to our eNewsletters to get the latest on cutting-edge, leadership insights & research. Teams look to their leaders as a beacon in difficult circumstances. Some decisions you can easily walk back if you need to. While no leader can completely avoid surprises, goal setting provides a map that you can return to time and again to refocus on your top priorities while handling other leadership challenges. Perhaps being vulnerable even encompasses all of the internal challenges we’ve talked about so far. Effective leadership means embracing the fact that conflict has to happen—but that there’s a way for conflict to be constructive. In a time of crisis, negative is probably how you’re feeling. We all need to know we matter. But if you give yourself a clear framework for how you make decisions, in good times and in tough times, you’ll be able to handle challenges from a position of clarity and choice. And it’s one of the chief challenges in any organization. But your team is looking to you to lead, guide and inspire. It’s your job as a leader to make sure your people know that you appreciate them. You’re human. And it gives you a recipe for dealing with challenges in a way that’s consistent with your values, purpose and goals—as a person and as an organization. 1. The problem is, most leaders, if we’re honest about it, struggle with self-doubt. Things don’t always go as planned. The Leadership Challenge is a suite of books, training products and assessments based on the book written by James Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, published by Wiley. That’s where your amygdala—part of the limbic system, where we process emotions—goes on red alert in the face of danger, whether it’s physical or psychological. And they’re the pressure-cooker moments that expose just how hard effective leadership can be. From all sides, around every corner, even from within. Taken together, all the demands of managing resources well can present a deep challenge for you as a leader. Sometimes they’re roadblocks. Be proactive in setting goals, as well as establishing the timelines — and deadlines — necessary to keep yourself and your teams on track. These leadership challenges include gaining managerial support, managing up, and getting buy-in from other departments, groups, or individuals. Take the bull by the horns. Coaching Management Style. Yet it seems that, overall, these 6 challenges are inherent for leaders in the role of middle or senior manager, regardless of the context. Maybe it’s a progression. And fear isn’t always the same as being afraid. But here’s the secret … no matter who we are, how much authority we have, what position we’re in, deep down inside every one of us is really a scared little kid. Sometimes change is predictable. Every day, leadership challenges are going to come for you. The distractions that you face can make it easy to lose sight of long-term and even short-term goals. The Challenges of Leadership Desire, determination, effectiveness, passion, management skills, being able to inspire, positive attitude, knowing who you are, what to do or not; these are all characteristics of a leader. The better you are at making decisions, the better you can overcome the leadership challenges you’ll face. It’s not the path of least resistance, by any means. But sometimes there’s just too much to do. Leadership is full of tough decisions. That’s good advice. Be transparent. Yes, there’s a lot to get done. Even if you’re not your best or most enthusiastic self. The times when progress is slow or an effort fails, and you fall into a funk. And it’s almost never the right choice. When setting a goal, make sure it’s: Just be sure to avoid these 3 common mistakes when goal-setting. Some gut-wrenching. Navigating the complexities of interpersonal relationships and handling team dynamics. There’s always an easy way out. It’s tough to stay focused. Being willing to show your humanity. The following are common obstacles leaders encounter. 5. It’s also tempting to sugarcoat things or withhold information. But you don’t need us to tell you that the arrogant leader is not someone we want to follow. Make a plan. PMID: 29521894 DOI: 10.1097/HCM.0000000000000215 Abstract Perhaps in no other period in recent times … They push too hard, never rest, and wear insane hours as a red-eyed badge of courage. That won’t stop people from asking you to take on additional tasks and projects. Maybe even more. They over and over again arise in periods of change or instability, like when a program or period of work is commencing or ending, when a group or … Leadership: Addressing the challenges of a Recession. Lack of support from senior leadership. When a team is struggling and you’re grasping at some way to rekindle the fire. Engaging in honest conversations with your team. Share. All the fears, stresses and worries you face as a leader. By focusing on conscious and unconscious behaviour, as well as rational and irrational action, you will learn to manage irrational and dysfunctional processes in your company. You’ll be more productive tackling leadership challenges, and you’ll empower your colleagues to take more ownership if you delegate. Capacity. Actually, it’s related in a way to the challenge of avoiding burnout. It’s up to you as the leader to steer conflict toward productive resolution. Setting a high bar for them to clear, but assuring them that you know they can do it and giving the direction and support to believe it. Physics tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Individuals can benefit from knowing their experiences aren’t isolated, and can feel more confident reaching out to others for help facing these challenges. When you do it right, delegating isn’t about simply “handing things off” or “clearing your plate.” It’s about empowering others to do the work you’ve brought them on board to do. My biggest leadership challenge is: Three of the challenges—inspiring others (top challenge in Singapore), developing employees (top challenge in Egypt), and leading a team (top challenge in Spain)—are all related to the relationship-oriented part of leadership. Understanding what those unique values are for you, and delegating everything else (or as close to everything else as you can), allows you to maximize the value you create for the organization. Sometimes the bridge is out entirely. They come in three categories: external (from people and situations); internal (from within the leader herself); and stemming from the circumstance of being a leader. Prioritize the most important tasks that only you can do, and delegate everything else. In fact, some studies suggest that 90% of strategic plans fail to meet expectations. And don’t forget about delegation. Attracting top Talent. Leadership poses a host of challenges. Look at that list. It’s the leader’s job to stare those tough decisions down. Among the most common personal traits that good leaders have to … But the opposite of fear isn’t courage … it’s action. And it’s up to the leader to inspire and motivate their team through all of those times. Transactional leaders, such as those identified in contingency … Many of the most common leadership challenges arise when leaders are either unaware of common pitfalls, or are inattentive to developing problems. On the other hand, you are not a machine. It’s far too tempting to go negative. Sometimes leadership means having to deliver the bad news about what went wrong or what needs to change. Use your purpose, vision and values to guide your decision-making. There’s always too much to do and never enough time to do it. Conflict is part of life. When we get honest about that, that’s when we can decide not to let it control how we act or how we lead. People are people—we’re emotional beings with highs and lows. And you’ll be able to proactively deal with leadership challenges because you’ve already determined how you’ll approach them. Everyone wants to feel seen, heard and appreciated. The Challenge of Leadership aims to improve your understanding of how human behaviour affects the functioning of an organisation. Leadership is the social process of getting people moving in the same direction to achieve common goals. 10. A natural disaster. The problem is, when we don’t assess our efforts in that way, we often end up spending far too much time on the tasks, projects or decisions that simply won’t have the impact to solve our leadership challenges. Great leaders can make those difficult decisions … and sleep through the night afterwards. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a virulent recession in many countries globally, Nigeria’s case is a bit direr. … So, we suggest that a majority of development content be the same, no matter where the training is taking place or who is going through the training. And tough decisions aren’t too different. Change is the only constant. It’s a principle that says 80% of the effects come from only 20% of the causes. As a leader, it goes with the territory to keep your team focused on that purpose. And when there’s faulty communication, people will fill in the gaps with their own assumptions. Handling Conflicts And Managing Internal Politics. Sometimes it means being “the bad guy.” What are the nonnegotiable, deeply held values that will lead to doing your best work, in the way you believe in doing it? But far and away the best way to lead through a crisis is to prioritize clarity over comfort. 9. 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