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12 of the Most Common Signs You’re Not Ready to Be a Leader

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Over the last 20 years, I have seen leaders do amazing things. A story that sticks out in my mind is a story of a missionary who served in Thailand. He went there believing that he could make a difference, yet there were obstacles that stood in his way, and he was persecuted for his faith. Thankfully, in the last 10 years, he has been able to start a radio station, build a school, write books, and serve the poor. His life has touched tens of thousands of people and he is just getting started. 

On the other hand, I have seen leaders do terrible things. Leaders who were entrusted to lead others, but were only out for themselves. Early on, I was leading a start-up organization that was growing rapidly so I brought another leader on to manage the finances. Little did I know that managing the finances was not the best place for this person. I wish I would have devoted more time to discover the story of this leader. 

The leader and I had a friendship and it never crossed my mind to ask some hard questions. Sadly, the organization paid a price for it. A few months after bringing him on, we discovered that he was stealing from the organization. He was confronted, paid the money back, and was released from service.

Both stories are not isolated. I can give you dozens of stories of great leaders. However, I can also give you a lot of stories of leaders who have missed the mark and entered into unethical or immoral behavior. 

As much as that pains me to say, we have to face the hard truth. A leader who isn’t working on being healthy is a leader who won’t be leading long. As leaders, we all start from a place of immaturity and inexperience while making mistakes along the way. Growth is messy and you cannot grow without making mistakes just like you can’t make an omelet without cracking some eggs. The process is one we must all submit ourselves to if we hope to be a leader worth following. 

Moving from immaturity to maturity may be difficult, but it is so worth it. Leading people is a sacred honor and responsibility. Leaders who do not follow the path towards maturity will always have a lid placed on their capacity to lead. 

I am passionate about many things and leadership tops the list of those passions. I believe each of us has the capacity to be a good leader, and some people have the capacity to be a great leader. The truth is that all of us have tendencies to be immature from time to time, yet, there is a difference between being immature and having a moment of immaturity. 

While moments of immaturity are expected, being immature is not. If the goal is to move from immaturity to maturity then we must first recognize the places we are most immature. I am a firm believer that a person can never change what they cannot see. If you see it you can overcome it even if that requires a lot of help.

“You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader.” – Henry Ford

To help you recognize if you are immature, let me share a list of the most common traits of immature leaders. You might be an immature leader if: 

You become defensive when people confront you.

You ignore the facts of your situations and convince yourself nothing is wrong. 

You avoid conflict at all costs.

You think your ideas are always the best ideas. 

You blame others for your mistakes or you allow your team to pass blame. 

You refuse to allow others to speak into your life. 

You try to do everything by yourself (No Delegation).  

You think the organization is dependent on you.

You don’t fully listen to others.

You play a victim every time something doesn’t go your way 

You think what you have to get done is more important than the people you’re leading.

You are concerned that the people you are leading want your position. 

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan

Leading isn’t easy. Leading from a place of immaturity is impossible. The more you see yourself in this list, the more immature you may be. One word of caution, all leaders will see themselves in this list from time to time. That is what it means to have a moment of immaturity. For those whose lives are built off this list, that is what it means to be immature. 

The most important thing is what happens next. What will you do with the information you have been given? How will you apply what you have learned? If you find yourself only experiencing moments of immaturity, how will you continue your growth? If you found yourself being immature, who will you hire to help you grow through it? 

The most important decision you have to make is what happens next. You’re a leader! Now it is time to grow up and be one! The world needs mature and amazing leaders. If you stay immature in your leadership then your impact will be small. The time is now to grow up! The time is now to grow internally mature! It is time to lead well!

What do you think makes a great leader? Share your thoughts and stories with us below!

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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leadership tips for new CEO
Image Credit: Midjourney

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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entrepreneurial leadership skills and traits
Image Credit: Midjourney

When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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