13 Mistakes Unsuccessful Leaders Make

13 Mistakes Unsuccessful Leaders Make

Like many of you I spend some of my time traveling.  As a result, the USA Today becomes a welcome companion on my journeys.  As I read their articles I am constantly on the lookout for leadership truths.
In an effort to serve you as leaders and my wife by getting clutter out of our home, the following are 13 Mistakes Unsuccessful Leaders Make captured from USA Today articles over the past year.

1. Unsuccessful Leaders Underestimate Their Influence – “It’s no fun.  I know.  It’s happened to me.  It’s uncomfortable…Everyone knows about it, not just your own fan base, but everyone in America knows it.  Your high school coach knows it.  Your first girlfriend knows it.  All your friends in college know it.” – Boomer Esiason on pro athletes who get in their coach’s doghouse, September 12, 2013
2. Unsuccessful Leaders Waste Talent – “He has the talent to totally dominate a game at any given time.  Now you go into this year, you didn’t see him dominate at all…When you have that much talent, you find a way to get it done.” – former NFL scout Greg Gabriel on Jadeveon Clowney, February 25th
3. Unsuccessful Leaders Have Limited Options - “Customers understand that inclement weather is not conducive to flying and flying safely.  What they really tell us they want are options and flexibility.” – Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant, February 27th
4. Unsuccessful Leaders Do Not Value Their Top Employees - “They don’t exist.  Big, fast guys are the fewest people around.  Everybody would like to get longer, taller guys that run 4.4, but there are just not very many humans like that in the world.  It’s rare when you find them.  Then you have to develop them.” – Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, February 27th
5. Unsuccessful Leaders Overcomplicate Things - “What people will try to do is use the simplicity of what Seattle does with their Cover 3 scheme, where they play really simple single-safety-high coverage.  This allows them to play fast…That scheme simplicity allows coaches to develop guys on the field because they are not bombarded with over-thinking.” – NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks, February 27th
6. Unsuccessful Leaders Miss Expectations - “Run a bus on time, with what people (millennials) want in it (free WI-FI and power outlets).  Go when they want to go and exceed the expectations, and you should…win all day long.” – Greyhound CEO David Leach, July 14th
7. Unsuccessful Leaders Lack Focus - “Everybody wants me to be so emotional all the time, but I’m come here to play the game.” – Derek Jeter prior to this year’s MLB All-Star Game, July 15th
8. Unsuccessful Leaders Do Not Develop A Great Team - “I guess, fortunately, sometimes the team that plays the best is the team what wins instead of maybe who all has the best players.” – South Caroline Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier, July 16
9. Unsuccessful Leaders Are In A Continual Rebuilding Mode – “You (Seattle Mariners) bring in a Robinson Cano, you bring him in for a reason, and that’s not to rebuild. It’s to try to win now, and they have.” – Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin, July 16
10. Unsuccessful Leaders Shortcut Process - “You have to sit back, and you have to embrace the process.  We can’t focus on the end result right now…It’s the realities of building a football program right now, but to me, it’s exhilarating.” – Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones, July 16th
11. Unsuccessful Leaders Dismiss The Impact Of The Next Generation – “I think in most sports, the pros are the last ones to adopt major changes.  I think they have more to lose and have already built great success and comfort with what they have.” – Baden Sports director of research and development Hugh Tompkins, September 5th
12. Unsuccessful Leaders Talk A Good Game But Fail To Deliver - “I am tired of talking.  I’m looking forward to playing some real football.” – Peyton Manning, September 5th
13. Unsuccessful Leaders Produce Poor Results – “(The Washington Redskins) go as I go.  If I play well, we play well.  If I don’t play well, we don’t play well.” – Robert Griffin III, September 5th

What other mistakes do you see unsuccessful leaders making?