Internal Challenges of Leaders
Leadership that inspires others, serves others, and points them toward a greater purpose and vision is actually hard work. There are plenty of external forces that can throw obstacles in your path.
Most often, however, it’s our own thoughts, feelings and ways of reacting to situations that can create some of the biggest hurdles in leadership. Here’s a list of internal leadership challenges we’re all likely to face –
STAYING HUMBLE.
When you’re in a position of leadership, it can be easy to be proud of your role. Especially when things are going great and you’re hearing accolades, it’s easy to start believing that all this success is your doing.
But the arrogant leader is not someone people want to follow. That’s a leader who alienates their team, causes conflict and incites drama. None of which is healthy for an organization. The best leaders are humble leaders.
HAVING SELF-CONFIDENCE.
Most leaders struggle with self-doubt – and the more you succeed, the more you’re likely to wrestle with those feelings that you’re not really who people think you are.
But healthy self-confidence is an essential characteristic of leadership. Where humility is all about knowing you’re not the center of the universe, self-confidence means understanding that you bring value to your work and people.
FOLLOWING THROUGH.
Distractions, emergencies and new opportunities pull you in different directions. Which is why it isn’t surprising that one leadership challenge you might face is having a tough time following through on the plans, ideas and strategies you put in place.
Yes, there’s a lot to get done, and there are certainly changes and surprises. But taking on so much that you’re unable to finish what you started has crippled the effectiveness of many leaders before you.
DEALING WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY.
The fear, the self-doubt, the range of problems and expectations that leaders often face – it can all add up to a level of stress that puts your ability to lead in danger. The anxiety these challenges create can itself be a significant to your leadership.
That’s why it can be so valuable for leaders to learn more about how they react to stress, understand their behaviors, and learn how to avoid the pitfalls to leadership that happen when anxiety goes unchecked.
KEEPING YOURSELF MOTIVATED.
Everyone has bad days. It’s easy to dwell on what isn’t working and let it sap your energy. And that can be especially tough for a leader to work through, because everyone’s looking to you to be a cheerleader.
Sometimes just the expectation of you to be the chief motivating officer can be one of the most demotivating factors you deal with. But your team is looking to you to lead, guide and inspire. Even if you’re not your best or most enthusiastic self.
Which of these internal challenges have you faced or are now experiencing? How do you plan to overcome them?
