9 Signs It’s Time for You to Step Down as a Leader
This article comes from Entrepreneur.
9 Signs It’s Time for You to Step Down as a Leader
How can you tell it’s time to step down as a leader? Well, here are 10 glaring red flags that can tell you if it’s time for a leader to step down.
1. You’re way too comfortable in your position.
You’ve worked your tail off to get where you are. But, there’s a big difference between being proud of your accomplishments and becoming complacent. When complacency happens, you no longer strive to do your best. You feel bored and go through the motions. Additionally, you stop seeking new opportunities and no longer stay up to date in your industry.
Successful leaders are those who continue to learn and grow. They push themselves out of their comfort zones. The leader shifts from SMART goals to HARD goals. HARD goals are: Heartfelt, Animated, Required and Difficult. These goals help to achieve their dreams and aspirations. If learning, growing, and pushing yourself is not how you’re currently operating, then it may be time to pursue a new passion.
2. Empathy is in short supply.
“The risks of turning insensitive and unkind to others increases as you become more senior,” Stanford professor Bob Sutton wrote in the McKinsey Quarterly. “Much research shows that being and feeling powerful provokes people to focus more on their own needs and wants and to become oblivious to others’ needs and feelings.”
Since empathy is the most crucial leadership skill one can possess, how you treat others is a red flag that it’s time to move on. After all, empathy creates a more loyal, engaged and productive workforce in your company. Cultivating this high emotional intelligence encourages you to be more present.
Empathy can also impact how you communicate with others. For example, through empathetic listening, you’re in a better position to understand the person you’re talking with. If an employee is momentarily overwhelmed with work-life balance, then you might brainstorm ideas with them on how to solve these issues. Like a finely tuned leader, you may suggest a flexible schedule for a few months or suggest someone they could talk with professionally.
3. The idea well has run dry.
Even when I’m not at work, my mind is coming up with innovative ideas on how I can improve myself and my business. That doesn’t mean that I’m preoccupied with work 24/7. It’s just that I have a lot of ideas, and I’m always on the lookout for inspiration.
If this river of ideas suddenly dried up, I would be seriously concerned. Personally, it would be a sign that I’m no longer invested in my current venture.
4. Turnover has become too common.
It’s natural for team members to come and go. Maybe they have to move across the country or need a career change. But, when they start fleeing like rats on a sinking ship, then you know you’re headed for turbulent water.
While I’m in no way implying that your departing staff is disloyal, the point is, why would they stick around at a failing enterprise? Why would they want to continue to work with a leader who is disengaged? In all fairness, you can’t blame them for jumping ship.
Click here to continue reading this article.