I find it concerning how many unprepared leaders there are out there.
Notice I didn’t say “bad” leaders.
You can choose your own word, but I’m sticking with unprepared; because, in most cases, that’s exactly what they are.
They’re people who are promoted because they’re good at their jobs (fair enough). But leading people to deliver results requires something very different from delivering results yourself.
How many organisations genuinely prepare people for leadership?
Yes, some send them on the odd leadership course, and others might invest in a fancy retreat at a big-name university. But are they really preparing people to lead?
I can safely say that, in most organisations, the answer is no.
When you don’t prepare people to lead effectively, you set them up for failure. Some may learn 'on the job', but how much trauma must they experience and unintentionally inflict - and at what cost - before they get there (assuming they do, eventually, get there)?
Effective, solid leaders need many skills. Here are five that get people off to a strong start:
1. Giving and Receiving Feedback
It’s not enough to teach people how to give feedback (though even that is often done poorly). Leaders also need to learn how to seek out feedback, receive it, and act on it. This skill is almost always overlooked.
2. Setting Expectations
Leaders often get frustrated when their team isn’t delivering, but did they set clear, measurable expectations? Did they confirm the team actually understood what was required? This is about more than telling; it’s about ensuring clarity and alignment.
3. Effective Communication
Just because you said it doesn’t mean it was heard and understood. Just because you sent the email doesn’t mean it was read or acted on. Accountability doesn’t stop when you hit “send” or speak in a meeting. It extends to ensuring your message translates into the outcomes you need.
4. Compassionate Correction
Unhelpful behaviour won’t magically fix itself. Yet how often do we hear excuses like, “I didn’t address it because it was Christmas/they were going on holiday/I thought they’d figure it out”? Unaddressed behaviour WILL be repeated. Address unhelpful/inapproprite behaviour promptly, directly, and compassionately. Performance management should be a last resort; if you course-correct early, it usually is.
5. Strategic Networking
Leaders need to build relationships that help them achieve their goals, and help others achieve theirs. Networking isn’t just a social activity: It’s a deliberate, strategic act that drives positive outcomes for the entire organisation.
If you’re promoting people into leadership roles without preparing them for these realities, you’re setting them up to struggle, and worse, setting your organisation back.
How does your organisation prepare leaders?
Are you equipping them with these skills before they step into leadership?
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