Don’t be a Spineless Leader: 3 Tips to Lead Better.
How to Make Decisive, Clear, and Confident Leadership Choices
Have you encountered leaders that:
Says yes to all upper-management requests.
Agree with every pushback from the team.
Can’t make decisions independently or always make the wrong ones.
Such leaders always try to please everyone but end up upsetting everyone in the long run. Luckily, I have worked with someone like that. While it wasn’t pleasant, it taught me things I should not do.
Today, I share tips that can help you not be that leader!
⏳ 1. Don’t Rush to Decide
Imagine you decide to do X in a rush when the right answer is Y. People will get upset and lose trust if this becomes a pattern. That isn’t good for a leader. Watch out for the following:
Feeling the pressure to decide?
Some leaders feel they must know everything and make decisions because they are the “leader.” Amateur leaders often succumb to this pressure.
Your job is to support the team, but sometimes you need to seek help from others. Do that!
Don’t have all the information right now?
Take a moment to think through the request. If you are unsure about the trade-offs or the depth of the request, say, “Let me get back to you in X hours/days.” There is no shame in acknowledging that you don’t have the necessary information right now.
Are you not the decision maker?
Don’t decide for someone else. If you do, you will upset the decision-maker and the stakeholder. When you realize a situation needs someone else, delegate it to the right person or involve them in this discussion.
🗣️ 2. Give Clear Feedback
Unless you communicate what you expect from your upper management, team members, and partners, they will do what they think is right. As a leader, it is your job to align all of them for the smooth functioning of your team. Do the following:
With the team
It is your job to shield your team from external noise. If there are unjustified requests or churns, absorb/transform them for your team.
Don’t go overboard shielding, though. For example, if your partner team is upset with your team’s reliability, you need to tell your team or let them hear it directly. That way, they will understand why you are pushing for reliability projects.
With upper management
If a deadline is aggressive, speak up and manage expectations.
If management has an incomplete picture, then help bridge that gap. For example, if management needs visibility into how busy the team is, provide that. That can help you get more headcount.
With partner teams
Hold them accountable if they slip their promises. Highlight how that has a cascading effect on your projects.
If their decisions will cause your team any harm, surface it to them.
⚔️ 3. Don’t Fear Conflicts
Trust me, nobody likes a YES man. It may seem great initially and feel like you connect with folks, but no one will trust your advice in the long run.
When you take up leadership, stop living in the constant fear of upsetting others. Disagreements become a norm and think of them as tools to enable and encourage critical thinking.
Start with questions
Ask clarifying questions to understand their reasons if you hesitate to challenge them.
Articulate your disagreement
Be very clear that you don’t agree with their proposal. Don’t just slide it into conversations.
Also, share what worries you and what your suggestion is. A common mistake is not sharing the full picture when you disagree. That keeps people guessing and results in arguments.
Be approachable
Resolving conflicts can take time, depending on the root cause of the disagreement. Be patient and debate the problem and not the people involved. This mindset will enable you to find an optimal solution, and others will appreciate your leadership.
📄 Parting Note
Lead with decisiveness, clarity, and courage. Embrace challenges, communicate openly, and never fear conflict. This is the path to true leadership. Doing so will earn trust, inspire your team, and drive lasting success.
Have you encountered a weak leader before? I would love to know how you handled the situation. Please share your thoughts in the comments.
🎤 Shoutout
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> Trust me, nobody likes a YES man.
I like this takeaway. I notice I fall into a "pleasing" trap sometimes. But it's better to speak your mind and be open about your concerns. If someone says "yes" to everything, you begin to question how authentic they are and whether you can really trust them.
Sometimes you have people you don't "like" but you know you can trust everything they say because they'll tell it to you straight.
It's good to find a balance between those two
Thanks as well for the post mention by the way, Raviraj!