How Weak Leaders Project Strength
All leaders falter, and nobody is perfect. Cliché enough for ya? Well, the reality is, these things are true. So, what can you do when your team needs a strong leader and you – for whatever reason – don’t feel up to the task? In those cases, projecting strength is not enough. You have to embody the strength you want to project, be the person you hope to be and take steps to protect yourself – and your team – from that weakness. Here’s how to make that work.
First, get out of your own head. When you feel yourself flagging, or you are unsure of what you need to do next, if you have the opportunity, find some wise counsel. That’s not to say you need to defer the decision or punt and hope someone else makes the call. No, instead of giving up and throwing up your hands, seek out wisdom from someone you trust who has been in your position. When you are feeling at your limit and in danger of exceeding it, the very worst place you can be is isolated in your own head.
Prepare in advance. Prepare for something you don’t know is coming? Yes, absolutely. Preparation is not about having all the answers, it’s about being able to deal with any potential situation you can imagine. Either having the skills or possessing the gravitas to acquire or borrow the skills you need to deal with the situation. It’s about maturity and capacity – not necessarily capability. No one can know everything, but you do have the option of being an exceptional version of yourself. When you strive to be that exceptional person, you will be better able to manage when things get close to the breaking point.
Define your weakness. Nebulous concepts such as how you feel and what you think won’t help you here. You need to fully understand where and how you are weak. Don’t be afraid to get specific, to put real names and solid definitions on the “stuff” that is pushing against you or holding you back.
Depend on your team. Once you know where your lack begins and your ability ends, you know exactly how to staff for circumstances that would challenge your weakness. Ignoring that weakness or hiring mini me employees who think, feel and act just like you is narcissistic and foolish. You need to cover your gaps with the people best qualified for that job. But, again, unless you know your weaknesses, you can’t know what strengths to recruit. A little honesty and personal insight here can save you a lot of pain and failure in the long run.
Jonah Engler is a finance expert and an entrepreneur from New York City.