A Thought Starter from our Co-Founder and President, Stefanie
No matter how experienced, well-resourced, or capable you are, if you're in a leadership role, you'll inevitably face a unique set of challenges. And, as the demands and scope of your role expand, these challenges multiply, becoming more ambiguous, complex, and uncertain.
Here's the kicker: Leadership challenges rarely disappear or lessen. Instead, with effort and intention, you'll become better equipped to handle them, and over time, you'll find new ones emerging. That’s the real nature of leadership.
The willingness to confront challenges rather than avoid them is an essential leadership characteristic, and I'd go as far to say that:
To lead most effectively, you need a genuine interest in tackling problems head-on. In fact, leadership itself is a challenge you need to want to go after.
That's not to say that you must react or be quick to take action on each and every challenge, but rather, you must have a hunger and desire to lean into problems, to interrogate them, and to determine a course of action to address them.
While each situation offers nuance to consider, there are a number of challenges that come up time-and-time again for leaders across levels and industries; more specifically, most leaders will have to navigate:
- Underperforming personnel in vital positions
- Inefficient or absent systems and processes to drive results
- Dysfunctional team interactions
- Complex decision-making without a clear framework for guidance
- Fluctuating market conditions and industry disruption
- Personal challenges with confidence or conviction
- Lack of self-awareness
- Underdeveloped skills or capabilities that become more evident as responsibilities grow
And many more.
As a leadership coach, I serve as a confidential sounding board, advisor, and truth-teller for people and business leaders every day.
In addition to the necessary desire to tackle challenges, across my conversations, another relevant truth stands out:
A leader must be willing to embrace and discuss their challenges - openly and vulnerably - to truly grow.
They can't be brushed under the rug, overlooked, or ignored.
What’s the takeaway?
While the above challenges are common and shared across contexts, HOW you approach these issues makes all the difference in your long-term effectiveness and impact.
So, how are you facing your challenges? Are humility and self-awareness part of your approach? If so, how has it helped? If not, what’s holding you back?
Until next time, happy leading and learning,
Stefanie
