5 Leadership Quirks You Can Turn into Assets

Some people in charge of a finance team have leadership quirks.

They’re the kind of things that are obvious to the leader, but annoying to the employees. For instance, micromanaging and stubbornness.

But once identified, leaders can usually turn their quirks into assets when managing employees.

Leadership Quirks to Improve

Of course, you want to do a great job of leading your team. And you probably already to that. But you also probably recognize, just like when it comes to profits, there’s always room for improvement.

So this will be good news: 70% of bosses survive any weaknesses they face as leaders, say Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, authors of Speed: How Leaders Accelerate Successful Execution.

But first, you need to know the quirks that can hold you back. Here are five common leadership liabilities – and how to turn them into assets:

1. Micromanaging

Unfortunately, some bosses check in on their finance staff five times a day to make sure they’ve completed every little task.

Some want to be seen as authority figures, others fear a loss of control. To ensure that things get done, these bosses become taskmasters and micromanage. But the best leaders put trust in their team, and most times, good employees will step up to show the leader they’re worthy of that trust.

Fix this quirk: The best approach? Try focusing on specific outcomes and trusting your team to follow through. Do periodic check-ins to ensure progress is being made, but don’t ask to be cc’d on every single email or require employees to give a daily status report. As you let go, they’ll soar to new heights.

2. Staying Too Connected

An always-connected approach to leadership is bad for your employees and you alike. It makes employees feel they need to get the boss’s approval on everything. And it will inevitably make them feel resentful. And it will exhaust you!

Fix this quirk: Even though project management tools, IM, email and texting allow you to potentially be involved every minute and for every decision, step back. Give employees breathing room. The best way: Communicate clearly to set consistent expectations and make sure they know you trust their judgment.

3. Stubbornness

The way you’re doing things may work, but it’s important not to let yourself – or your team – grow stagnant. The best leaders continue to grow and learn – and are always on alert for signs of complacency. If you are stubbornly stuck in your ways, employees will leave.

Fix this flaw: You want to consistently make clear the why behind what you do. But then be open to feedback from your employees. Invite them to question processes, decisions and the way you do things. Encourage more constructive feedback by acting on their good ideas.

4. Needing to Be Liked

The need to be in everyone’s good favor can sometimes cloud good business judgment. Finance leaders sometimes need to make unpopular decisions.

Fix this flaw: The best leaders know that if they make consistently good decisions, and explain the reasoning — ideally by data or proven successes — behind those, they will earn the respect of their employees. Choose respect over being liked every time.

5. Having Goals without Vision

Your finance team always needs to know what they’re working toward. In fact, most companies believe one of the most important functions for leaders is to accomplish goals. In the same vein, they also believe that setting the vision and helping employees see it is equally important. Bottom line: Neither can stand on its own.

Fix this flaw: People connect to a project or task much more easily if they know where it’s headed and what it will mean to them and their team. Provide a clear and succinct picture of the vision and desired outcomes for the team.