If you’ve found yourself having to consider any of these questions, it may be time to understand Leadership Derailers.

• What would cause a leader to get off course?
• What would cause a leader to avoid their leadership responsibilities?
• How can you pinpoint the areas to watch out for, catch or proactively develop in yourself or your team members before it becomes an issue?

Leadership derailers are indicators of when leaders may stray from the course or their responsibilities. Fortunately, they can be assessed and then developed to keep a leader on track. Research* clearly points to the following four sub-scales as having the biggest impact for leadership derailment.

Leadership Derailers:

Impulse Control

Resist or delay impulse, drive or temptation to act and involves avoiding rash behaviors and decision making.

Stress Tolerance

Coping with stressful situations and believing that one can manage or influence situations in a positive manner.

Problem Solving

Find solutions when emotions are involved including the ability to understand how emotions impact decision-making.

Independence

Self-directed; free from emotional dependency. Decision-making, planning and daily tasks are completed autonomously.

Because of high expectations placed on leaders, it is important to strive towards exceptional, or at least above average performance across all four derailers. High scores on these areas indicate that you are less likely to adopt a passive or avoidant leadership style.

Scoring low on any of the four may put you or your team members at a higher risk of derailment. Lower scores are associated with a more passive or avoidant leadership style. A team may see their leader as being ineffective in certain situations and may not be fully satisfied under their leadership. A leader can be at moderate risk if one is below average. It is important to strive towards exceptional to prevent moments where you might avoid your leadership responsibilities.

Focusing development on these areas will yield the greatest return in you and your team’s growth as leaders.

Curious about assessing you’re and/or your team’s Leadership Potential & Derailers?
Contact me for before Sept 30th for more information about my Fall EQi promotion.

 

Next week look out for The Well-Being Indicator!

*Conducted by MHS – Multi-Health Systems Inc.