Picture this: you've accomplished your goal of operating your own practice. Business is good, you've been working hard at improving yourself, your patients are happy, and so are your employees. Everything seems to be going great, and then you hit a road bump. Rather than analyze the problem for what it is and brainstorm on new solutions, you revert to what you already know. Why? Because you just don't have the time to reflect on the possibilities of what could work. You need a solution, and you need it now.
Reflect on the scenario for a moment. Does that sound like you? If so, you might be sabotaging your own potential to be a great leader. A common issue we see is the unwillingness of leadership teams to think up to the next level. Instead of finding solutions outside of the comfort zone, managers and business owners are sticking to the bare minimum. Sure, what you know got you to where you are, but that's only because you were willing to engage and grow as an individual. Yes, it takes time and courage and it is so much easier to sit back rather than continue to work on yourself. But who said anything worth having comes easy?
Here are three signs it might be time to think outside the box and stop sabotaging your own leadership potential.
1. You're the one who always says "YES!"
Well, maybe not always. But if you are more willing to jump in and get to work than step back and assess who would be the best fit for the task, you're looking at a clear indicator or self-sabotage. While you are capable of accomplishing many things, not every person is good at everything. And nobody can do it alone. Consider the decisions you've made for your practice in the last week. Could those decisions have been made by someone at an entry-level? Now ask youself why you made them. If the answer is because it was just easier for you to do it yourself, you may need to reassess what you value as a leader.
2. You give a task instead of direction.
Have you ever met someone who likes being micromanaged? Probably not. As the leader of your practice, it is your job to identify what it looks like for your team to win and how to make it happen. If someone on your team asks a question, instead of immediatly answering it, ask them questions in return. This will help you to understand how they think and what they value. From there, you can guide them in becoming strategic thinkers. You'll also want to be sure to have regular meetings to check-in with your team. Just because you are training them to be more self-sufficient doesn't mean you should become complacent and unaware.
3. You don't ask questions.
As you go through training and building a solid team, be sure to evaluate your own processes. Don't assume that your current methods are the best just because they are habit. If you aren't evaluating your practices consistently, you won't continue to grow.
You want to be the best leader you possibly can, and being self-aware will help you to avoid the pitfalls of self-sabotage. Contact us for a free coaching call to see how we can help you accomplish your personal and professional goals.