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    You are here Home » executive coaching

    Debunking Three Common Myths About Leadership from a Galaxy Far, Far Away

    Last updated on Jun 4, 2015 by Dan McCarthy · This post may contain affiliate links

    Guest post by Brenda Corbett:

    The
    Star Wars franchise has seen numerous leaders, including great ones of the
    dreaded Dark Side. With
    Star
    Wars: The Force Awakens
    coming out late this year, we will see new and old
    leaders take the big screen with various styles of leaderships. There are many
    definitions of leadership, but sometimes the best way to define something is to
    explain what it is NOT.  Looking at the
    common myths and misconceptions can shed light on the truths that can set us
    free as leaders and help us unleash the best kind of success in an
    organization.

    Myth #1: I can use my motivation to help
    others be motivated

    Make
    no mistake! One of a leader’s key responsibilities is to motivate others, to
    “rally the troops.” But what motivation are you using? The operative term here
    is “my motivation.” What motivates the leader does not necessarily motivate
    everyone else in the organization. This can be a real stumbling block for
    leaders as they make assumptions about why their employees do what they do.

    Most
    of the time, leaders are just not digging deep enough to determine why it
    matters to employees. But having that complete understanding of the reasons
    people behave the way they do is crucial for a leader’s – and company’s –
    success. Yoda nailed this in the head. He took the time to understand and
    influence those he led. He continuously asked questions encouraging others to
    think. He engaged them in their thoughts and ideas to truly understand what motivated
    them. By getting to know your employees like Yoda got to know his students, you
    can help employees make positive choices when deciding what behaviors to use –
    all based on THEIR motivations, not yours.

    Myth #2: My job as a leader is to get my
    team on board

    Most
    leaders think that their job is to get everyone in the company to think like
    they do. Align everyone to the company vision and mission. Get them all
    speaking the same vernacular to go onward and upward to productivity and
    profits. Create uniform processes so that everyone does everything the same way
    in perfect, efficient harmony. But as soon as this occurs, it starts to become
    solely about the leader, starting the steps towards the Dark Side.

    Certainly
    there has to be a team mentality, a loyalty to the company and to each other,
    but to be successful, companies should be full of free thinkers. Sure, Darth
    Vader has ultimate respect from all of his followers, but not for good reasons.
    They respected him out of fear. He didn’t approve (to use the lightest word)
    when people spoke up or had different thoughts or ideas than him. If someone
    disagreed with him, they knew to keep their mouths shut or expect Vader to use
    the force to choke them to death. Darth Vader had the power and respect,
    but remember how he ended
    up?
    Yeah.

    As a
    leader you should aim for diversity of thought by welcoming opposing viewpoints
    and be open to new ideas. I think you’ll find that’s where some of your best
    ideas come from.

    Myth 3: Every argument has a winner and a
    loser

    This
    sounds pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? Surely this cannot be a myth. But
    there is an alternate scenario, one in which everybody wins. The key is in your
    approach. As decisions are made, some go one way, some go another – and as a
    leader you’ve got to be okay with that. Have you heard of the term “right
    fighter?” It’s someone who just wants to be right, that is what is most
    important to them. Not success or solutions, just being right. If you are a
    strong leader, you know that it just doesn’t work. Being right or getting your
    way or winning the argument is not the goal, it’s not the path to success.
    Recognizing and fostering a “we’re all winners” mentality is the best
    self-fulfilling prophecy of all! Han Solo could be quite the narcissist, but he
    had this down when it came to taking action. While under attack from Imperial
    Forces, he made the decisions as a leader and Princess Leia and Luke followed.
    It was not without digs and questioning from Princess Leia, but ultimately Han
    Solo led his crew to safety and the argument definitely resulted in everyone as
    a winner – and more importantly, a survivor.

    So
    tell me…can we agree to disagree? I think so.

    We
    want to know what you think. How do your personal motivations come in to play
    with your leadership style? Do you ever fall prey to these myths?  Are there other myths you’ve encountered?

    Let us
    know in the comment section below or connect with us on
    Facebook.

    Good
    luck in your leadership journey. May the force be with you.

    About the Author

    Brenda
    Corbett is the co-author of
    Why It Matters – The Sherpa Guide to What
    You Are Looking For
    , centered on a concept she created as an executive
    coach. Your Why It Matters provides the inspiration for what you choose to do,
    personally and professionally through four key points leading to your ultimate
    sense of satisfaction. Based in Cincinnati, but working all over the world,
    Corbett literally wrote the book on executive coaching,
    The Sherpa Guide: Process-Driven Executive
    Coaching
    . It’s the foundation for certificate programs at 10 major
    universities. Corbett’s next project will incorporate neuroscience research
    into her executive coaching methods because it all starts with the brain!

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