Mistakes Every New Leader Makes

Author: Herb Kimble.

Every day new leaders are forged, they make the same blunders. Time after time to the point where many of these mistakes are just old news. If you can learn from these beginner stumbles, you’re already a leg ahead of your peers.

The Molehill Problem

There’s an old saying that one shouldn’t make mountains out of molehills, meaning to avoid making a big deal out of a small problem. Leadership is hard and roadblocks can feel like a challenge to overcome. The role of a leader carries the burden of overcoming those obstacles.

The molehill mindset leads to explosive conflicts over virtually every minor detail. Most of these conflicts will not impact the product or the end result in any way, but they kill productivity and morale. If you find yourself escalating problems frequently, focus on improving your problem-solving skills and create conditions that lead to success.

Trying Too Hard

A new leader is tasked with overcoming odds to deliver, and that can easily manifest itself in a lack of trust. Leadership that tries too hard also tends to be too critical and may create toxicity in the workplace. This type of leader means well, but often stresses over their own insecurities projected onto the end result.

It’s possible that you really do know what’s best in every dispute, but not likely. It’s conceivable that others on your team can participate and bring good ideas to the table, maybe not the right ones but ones that lead you on the right path. Don’t be a dictator.

Bio: Herb Kimble is both an entrepreneur and a film and television producer. His roots as an accomplished actor gave him a passion for the arts. Today, Herb Kimble is co-founder of CineFocus Productions and launching Urban Flix, an inclusive streaming company based in Los Angeles.