Provocare Coaching

When you think of a leader, what comes to mind? Most people might think of someone charismatic, powerful, and always in control. However, the job of being a leader is not always glamorous, exciting or sexy as it’s made out to be. Here are some of the challenges you have to learn to navigate.

Making calls you afraid to make

no, I am not talking about the fear of actually speaking to someone rather than email and texting. Making good judgment calls can be one of the most difficult challenges you will face as a leader. It is easy to make the call when you are confident and know the answer, but it is much harder to make the call when you are unsure, hearing competing views, it won’t be popular, or knowing you have to live with the ripple consequences, good and ‘evil’, and in the end, you have to trust your gut.

Even trivial matters can soon become precedent-setting or viewed by someone as unfair. You need to remember that you wouldn’t be human if some of your calls were not flawed and that you should be judged on the sum of your efforts.

Being well-informed, consultative, curious, open-minded and systematic will help you avoid bad judgment calls and begin committing to learning as you go.

Getting up early

Most leaders have to put up with early starts and late or sleepless nights. It is not always easy to be the first in the office, always available to a wide range of people who just want a quick minute or think their drama has to become your priority. Yet that the job like it or lump it.

Self-care, Healthy boundaries, steadfast routines, little spontaneity and striving to be balanced in all your approaches will help sustain your energy, resilience and tenacity.

Give more than you get

A key component of being a leader is service to others. You must be willing to give more than you get, at least in the short term.

Leadership is about service to others, not people serving you. Listen to gripes, meet demands and expectations, provide advice and support, and be the punch bag for all stakeholders internally and externally.

If driven by ego and reputation rather than humbleness, you will be in for a hard time.

Whether it is your time, energy or resources, you have to be willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Leadership is not a one-time event but a continuous journey; the long-term gains far outweigh the short-term pain.

Care more than peeps care about you

You have to care more about your team, your vision and the people you are trying to help than they care about you. This can be one of the most difficult challenges because when push comes to shove and things get tough, it is easy for people to forget about you and move on. You must always consider how your actions affect other people and be willing to put their needs above yours.

No matter how much people say they care about you or how much you worry about what they think of you at the end of the day, most people are looking out for themselves. It is not that they don’t care; it is just that their priorities are elsewhere. Learning not to take things personally and to separate yourself from the situation will help you make better decisions and maintain healthy perspectives.

Feeling insecure about playing it safe.

t is easy and common to feel insecure when playing it safe and not taking risks. However, being a leader is about more than just taking chances. It is about making the best decision for the team and your situation. Sometimes, that means playing it safe, avoiding unnecessary risks, and taking a calculated risk. The key is to assess the situation, remember the mission and make the best decision possible.

Leading when no one else is following

This is one of the most difficult challenges you will face as a leader. It can be difficult to lead when no one else is following. You have to be willing to take the first step, go against the tide, stand up against questionable group think and assumptions and be the one to set the example. This can be daunting and result in reputation and relationships, but it is essential to be a successful integral leader.

Leading by doing is one of the most effective ways to mobilise others. People are more likely to follow someone doing something than someone just talking about it. Let’s get this show on the Road!

Invest in yourself when no one is investing in you

This is another common challenge for leaders. It can be difficult to invest in yourself when no one else is investing in you. People can assume as you are a leader with a title that you have no support needs and no learning required, and their expectations can often make them forget you are human.

It is important to remember that you are the one who ultimately decides whether or not to invest in yourself. If you believe in your vision and your ability to achieve it, then you should be willing to invest in yourself. The best way to do this is to learn and grow continuously. Read books, attend workshops, hire a coach and mentor, whatever you need to do to continue developing your skills and knowledge.

Grind out details when it is easier to ignore them

This is a common challenge for leaders. It is easy to ignore the details when trying to get things done. However, as a leader, you must be willing to grind out and unpack the details and ensure that everything is being taken care of. This cannot be easy, but it is essential to be a successful leader. Ignored minor details are the ones that bite you on the ass when you least expect it and often.

 Delver results when excuses are an option

This is a common challenge for leaders. It can be easy to make excuses when things are not going as planned. However, as a leader, you must be willing to deliver results regardless of the obstacles.

Successful leaders find ways to deliver results in the face of challenges. They see obstacles as opportunities and use them to their advantage. If you want to be a successful leader, start seeing challenges as opportunities and look for creative ways to overcome them.

Manage your own expectations when told to accept facts

often; you have to push boundaries that seem unmovable. When systems, old guard cynicism or newbie naivety are coming from you in all directions. It is easy to give up, especially when people tell you that you need to accept the facts. However, as a leader, you must manage your own expectations and stay focused on your vision. There is always an answer, a compromise, a way to change minds and systems and inspire action and new ways of working. The art lies in knowing what battles to fight and which ones to walk away from.

We are often told to accept the facts, but it is essential to remember that you are the one in charge of your own expectations. If you believe in your vision and your ability to achieve it and are informed, you should not let anyone else tell you what you can or cannot do.

Make mistakes and look like an idiot – Try and fail

Learning to take risks, learning from trial and error, and facing public scrutiny simultaneously that the job is unavoidable. However, don’t fear it, but welcome it. It can all provide the best growth opportunities. If you make mistakes, make sure they’re big ones. That way, you learn more from them. As they say in Scotland, “you might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb.”

Being a leader is not easy. It comes with its challenges and its difficulties. However, it is essential to remember that these challenges make us better leaders if we learn to overcome them.

Kind to people who are cruel to you –

People rarely demonstrate gratitude and often have short-term memories of your positive contributions. However, they always remember what you didn’t do, your mistake, or even make shit up because it suits their narrative and agenda. It can be soul-destroying listing to it.

People are perplexing and annoying yet wonderful at the same time. Even when the world is against you, you must be kind to those who appear cruel to you. They probably don’t even know they are doing it; rising above it can be difficult, but leadership demands it.

Meet unreasonable deadlines and deliver unparallel results

It never ceases to amaze me how many decision-makers, due to their disorganisation and slackness, issue short notice meeting requests, cancel or make demands with impossible deadlines, want everything done yesterday, and what is done to the highest standard possible.

Seeing potential and opportunity where others see problems and roadblocks and factoring in the unexpected to your planning allows you to beat unreasonable deadlines and deliver unparalleled results.

Be accountable

Being accountable for everything is one of the most important aspects of being a leader. I often describe my job as the one who takes the blame! This means being willing to take responsibility for your actions, decisions, and your team.

It does not mean you should not hold others accountable for their actions and decisions. But when your team fail, you fail. This can be a difficult task, but it is the responsibility that comes with the job.

Leadership and management might not be as sexy as they seem, but it is crucial. It comes with its challenges, but these challenges make us better leaders. If we can learn to overcome them, we will be able to help others, and our organisations will achieve great things.

Finally, Keep moving. No matter your challenges or obstacles, it is essential to keep moving. Remember to take risks, invest in yourself, and grind.