Traps for the unwary!
Leadership is a tough gig. No matter how much training or preparation you’ve had, the reality of leading a team comes with plenty of opportunities to get things wrong—especially when you’re new to the role. Let’s face it, every leader makes mistakes. It’s part of the process. But there are some common errors that inexperienced leaders tend to make, and the sooner you can recognise and avoid them, the better off you—and your team—will be.
So, what are these classic blunders, and more importantly, how can you steer clear of them?
Let’s take a look.
1. Trying to Do Everything Yourself
One of the biggest mistakes new leaders make is believing they need to have all the answers and do everything themselves. It’s easy to fall into this trap, especially if you’re stepping up from within a team and feel the need to prove your worth. But here’s the truth: leadership isn’t about being a one-person show.
Trying to do everything on your own will not only lead to burnout, but it will also leave your team feeling undervalued and underused. A great leader knows how to delegate effectively, leveraging the strengths of the people around them.
How to avoid it: Learn to trust your team. Identify their skills and let them take ownership of tasks. Delegation isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of good leadership. Plus, it gives your team the chance to grow and develop, which benefits everyone.
2. Focusing on Authority Instead of Influence
Inexperienced leaders often think their title gives them automatic authority. They expect people to follow orders simply because they’re “the boss.” But leadership isn’t about telling people what to do; it’s about influencing, inspiring and motivating them to do it willingly. If you’re leading by fear or relying too much on your position of power, you’re setting yourself up for a very rocky ride.
People don’t follow titles—they follow people. If your team doesn’t respect or trust you, they won’t give their best, no matter what your job title says.
How to avoid it: Build relationships, not just hierarchies. Show your team that you’re there to support them, not just to give orders. Get involved, listen to their concerns and demonstrate that you value their input. Leadership is earned through trust and respect, not imposed through a title.
3. Avoiding Difficult Conversations
No one likes conflict, but if you’re in a leadership position, difficult conversations are inevitable. Whether it’s addressing poor performance, navigating team conflicts, or giving tough feedback, inexperienced leaders often shy away from these uncomfortable moments. They hope things will sort themselves out, but they rarely do.
Avoiding these conversations only allows issues to fester and grow, which can lead to bigger problems down the road. Your team needs you to be direct and honest, even when it’s uncomfortable.
How to avoid it: Face problems head-on. Learn how to have difficult conversations with tact and empathy, but don’t delay or sugarcoat the issue. Being clear, respectful and solution-focused will build trust with your team and prevent small issues from turning into major headaches.
4. Micromanaging
When you’re new to leadership, it’s tempting to stay involved in every detail. After all, if you’re overseeing a team, shouldn’t you be checking everything they do? Not quite. Micromanaging is one of the fastest ways to destroy morale and stifle productivity. Your team will feel that you don’t trust them, and frankly, you’ll exhaust yourself in the process.
Leadership isn’t about control; it’s about guidance. Your role is to provide direction, not to hover over every task.
How to avoid it: Set clear expectations, but give your team the space to do their work. Focus on the bigger picture and trust your team to handle the details. Offer support when needed, but resist the urge to jump in unless absolutely necessary.
5. Not Setting Clear Expectations
Many inexperienced leaders make the mistake of assuming their team knows what’s expected of them. But if you haven’t clearly communicated your expectations, you can’t assume anything. Ambiguity leads to confusion, missed deadlines and underperformance.
Your team needs clear, consistent goals and guidelines to work towards. Without them, they’re operating in the dark—and you’re setting them up for failure.
How to avoid it: Be crystal clear about what you want to achieve and how success will be measured. Whether it’s a long-term strategy or a small task, make sure everyone understands what’s expected of them. Regular check-ins can help keep everyone aligned and on track.
6. Forgetting to Give Feedback
Feedback is a crucial part of leadership, yet many inexperienced leaders overlook it. They assume that no news is good news, or they only focus on criticism when something goes wrong. But if your team isn’t getting regular feedback, how will they know how they’re doing? And how will they improve?
A lack of feedback can leave your team feeling uncertain, undervalued and disconnected from the bigger picture.
How to avoid it: Make feedback a regular part of your leadership style. Offer both positive and constructive feedback, and do it often. Recognise good work and provide guidance where needed. Feedback shouldn’t be reserved for formal reviews—it should be part of everyday conversations.
7. Neglecting Personal Development
It’s easy for new leaders to focus solely on the development of their team and forget about their own growth. But leadership is a skill, and like any skill, it requires continuous improvement. If you’re not actively learning and developing as a leader, you risk falling behind—and so does your team.
How to avoid it: Commit to your own development. Whether it’s through reading, training, mentorship or self-reflection, make learning a priority. Great leaders are always growing, adapting and improving. The more you invest in yourself, the more you can offer to your team.
The Bottom Line: Learn from Your Mistakes
Making mistakes as a new leader is inevitable—it’s how you handle those mistakes that counts. The key is to learn from them, adapt, and keep moving forward. Leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being resilient, self-aware and open to growth.
By avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll not only become a more effective leader but also create an environment where your team can thrive.
What mistakes have you made as a leader, and how are you learning from them?
What’s Your Next Move?
Leadership is about action, not just reflection. So, how will you apply today’s insight? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s continue the conversation—your next breakthrough might be closer than you think.
Bernard Kates is a Transformational Leadership Coach and Mentor
Comments