Top Leadership Challenges

There is no doubt that the work of modern-day leaders is complicated around the globe. Research shows that the challenges these diverse leaders face are more similar than different.

As a leader, you need to lead and motivate a diversified group of people, work across organizational boundaries, improve efficiency, and achieve growth. At the same time you face a complex and globalized environment, you need to manage the requirements of government, keep up with competitors, and meet the expectations of other stakeholders.

These are difficult challenges and many leaders feel ill-prepared to tackle them.

Let’s have a closer look at the top 3 leadership challenges to help you move forward.

1. Developing managerial effectiveness

The challenge of developing the relevant skills, such as time management, prioritization, strategic thinking, decision-making, and getting up to speed with the job to be more effective at work.

Set measurable goals, review them often and know your priorities. Work will always be there. Your objective is NOT to get it all done. The magic happens when you get the RIGHT tasks done. I’m a big believer in 80/20 rule. When it comes to goals and action, it means that 80% of your actions create 20% results. And vice versa – 20% of your tasks create 80% results. You need to start focusing on the 20% tasks that will create the results you’re looking for. This will completely change the game plan. As Tony Blair once said: “The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.”

Focus on tasks you’re good at. Delegate the rest. If you’re doing things the way your predecessor was doing them, you’re doing it wrong. You have your unique skill set, your own strengths. Focus on what you’re good at. Surround yourself with team that can compliment your strengths.

2. Inspiring others and developing team members

The challenge of inspiring or motivating others to ensure they are satisfied with their jobs; how to motivate a workforce to work smarter. This challenge is related to relationship part of leadership. Leaders must focus on production as well as relationships to create best results.

My first tip for you here is to lead by example. Your team is watching you whether you know it or not. They pay attention to what you say, how you say it, what you do and what you don’t do. It’

Be intentional about developing others. Months, even years can slip by quickly and if you aren’t intentional about investing in your team development, sooner or later you will see them disengage, even leave. Keep in mind that first and foremost, your team is what holds your company or organization. Value them and add value to them. Some people need validation, others desire to be part of something. Good leader discovers these needs and meets them.

3. Guiding change

This is my absolutely favorite topic. This challenge includes managing, mobilizing, understanding, and leading change. How to mitigate change consequences, overcome resistance to change, and deal with employees’ reaction to change.

Once again, it starts with you. You as a leader must be more open to fresh ideas and embrace change. Set a good example by being open to feedback and new ideas.

Understand that it’s natural that people do not like change. Some even naturally resist it. Showing empathy and engaging people emotionally by being visionary, passionate and authentic might be a great help. Understand that people are different and while some will adjust faster, others might need more time.

If at all possible, include people in change initiatives. Ask them for feedback, suggestions for improvements, uncover challenges that frustrate them. Bringing change as a solution to their frustration or thanks to their brilliant feedback helps them feel like they’re being heard and part of the process as opposed to being pushed into something new that doesn’t even make sense.

It’s not easy to be a leader, especially if you want to be a good one and manage your team well. Others expectations of you and your inability to find time and resources can be frustrating. Leading a team can be exhausting. Guiding change can at times feel like a mission impossible.

If you’re looking to get inspired, rejuvenated, learn new insights and build personalized strategies to overcome challenges you’re currently facing, I invite you to join me in my Impact Academy.

Impact Academy is a powerful program designed to help you discover your strengths, align your work around them to help you maximize your results and improve your performance. If you’re ready to transform your daily habits, remove unnecessary stress and get more done, click here to learn more about Impact Academy.

You can continue doing what you’ve been doing, but you will keep seeing the same result. Or you can break this cycle and choose to create different results. If you do, I’ll be looking forward to see you in Impact Academy!

Warmly,

PS: Click here for more tips to help you overcome these leadership challenges.