A common and costly leader mistake that can result in a loss of credibility and trust…
MISTAKE: Getting caught up in the Popeye Syndrome – “I am what I am.”
The implied message here is: “I am the way I am and if you don’t like it, who cares?”
Leaders often exhibit this behavior when doing things like conducting meetings without involving team members, and when resolving team member issues without asking for input or engaging them in the problem-solving process.
The trouble with the Popeye Syndrome is that it’s ineffective. It assumes that things don’t change, circumstances don’t change, and that all individuals need exactly the same things from their leaders. None of this is true.
Part of our People-First Leadership development model is to Lead by Example. And that requires leaders to know who they are while being constantly in quest of self-improvement. They also must have a keen sense of the individual needs of each team member.