Being wrong is a part of life. Fear also affects all of us. This is true for both life and leadership. Sometimes leaders know exactly what to do. I know you know the other side of the coin, so I don’t need to say it. Leading innovation will reveal insecurities.
Some of the insecurities are due the fact leaders feel they don’t know enough. Most of the times you have to make the best decision you can with the little you have. What makes decision-making and taking action difficult is often the fear of being wrong.
There’s no leader who has never been wrong. You are not always going to be correct. This is one thing that can never be separated from leadership. Always remember you could be wrong at any time.
Fear being wrong and not knowing it more than you fear being proven wrong. #Leadership
— Mike Myatt (@mikemyatt) May 6, 2013
Being right is not synonymous with leadership. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you’re the leader you must be right all the time. I’m not suggesting that you need to be wrong all the time either.
You must be motivated to do the best you can to move your cause and enterprise forward. Like Mike Myatt suggests don’t worry about be wrong. That’s part of leadership. You challenge is to know when you’re wrong.
When you know you’re wrong you can take measures to correct things. The longer you continue down the wrong path the more difficult and longer the return.
Feedback
This means you need to have tools that help you realize when you’re wrong. Feedback is one. Make a decision and start acting. Check with your team if the steps taken bring the intended results. Simple.
Secure
Be secure enough that being wrong doesn’t scare you. Some fear is a result of insecurity. You don’t become a bad leader by being wrong. You’re bad leader when you don’t admit being wrong and take the appropriate actions.
Some leaders’ pride is fuelled by fear. Pride then causes them not to reverse their decisions or take different actions.
Leaders have the ability to destroy an enterprise with both fear and pride.
Fear of being wrong will lead to inaction, which can make your organization irrelevant. Pride will have you continuing down a path of destruction. Not knowing when you’re wrong will destroy you.
On fear and being wrong…
Perhaps most detrimental not wanting to know if you’re wrong… Be bold. Be /ˈherətik/.