I’ve been blessed to be able to spend time with several seasoned leaders. A few of these men have felt sorry for me and have taken me under their wing. They saw some of these rookie mistakes in my life and wanted to save me (and those I lead) from myself.
I wouldn’t call myself a seasoned leader or even put myself in the middle of the leadership spectrum. I do have a few hard-earned battle scars that rookies can’t understand or appreciate yet, but they will.
The difference I’ve noticed between rookie leaders and seasoned leaders makes me wince. I wince thinking about the people whom I unintentionally hurt with my mistakes. And I cringe as I think about the wake of casualties other rookie leaders are leaving.
As I reflect on the way these seasoned leaders think, I’ve noticed some glaring differences with rookies. Some of these rookie mistakes are stubborn and hang on longer than they should. The more I’m aware of them, the more quickly I want to stamp them out…old habits die hard. Read these and see where you might be hanging on to some ways you should let go of sooner rather than later.
1. Rookie Leaders Are Cocky.
Rookie leaders lack humility. They haven’t experienced the pain of failed initiatives or sharp left turns in response to those failures. They haven’t had to explain why this great idea wasn’t. Rookies have everything figured out and know the solution for everything, even though they haven’t done or accomplished anything yet. Rookies wrongly assume they have leadership because they’ve earned it, when in reality they have leadership because it was entrusted to them.
Seasoned leaders are confident…and there is a big difference. They have every reason to be cocky, but instead you find something else…a quiet confidence born out of humility. Seasoned leaders understand the value of their hard work, but they also understand they didn’t do it by themselves. They understand no one does anything great unless a lot of people believe in them and want them to succeed. Seasoned leaders remember that for every shining example of success there are 3 or more examples of failures. They have seen cycles come and go and weathered some tough storms. Even if this is the big one that brings the ship down, they know how to build another ship.
2. Rookies Forget that there’s History.
They know what’s hot, what so and so is doing, what they did at their last place, and the one-size-fits-all approach. But what they don’t know is what happened before them or how the organization got to where it is. Rookies forget to understand the past and then look foolish to the veteran team members making suggestions that have already been tried. Rookies say, “We should…” instead of “Have we ever tried…” They forget to seek first to understand instead of to be understood. Rookies discount the work that was done before them to build the platform they now stand on. They forget to say thank-you to those whose shoulders they stand upon. Rookies just assume their budget will be there, they rarely say thank you for it or the work it took to get it. Make sure you say “thank you” before you ask for more. A large dose of humility and gratitude goes a long way.
Seasoned leaders have intuition from experience and depth with an organization. Seasoned leaders put more stock in what someone has done instead of what they say they can do. Rookies are forever spouting off their abilities even though they haven’t done or accomplished anything. What you finish is more important than what you start. Rookies speak first, whereas seasoned leaders speak last and then everyone wonders why they didn’t go first because it’s the wisest answer in the room. They seek to understand and weigh the different perspectives before making a plan of attack. Rookies haven’t been responsible for thinking of what’s best for the organization or for the entire group as opposed to a specific group within the organization. Rookies don’t live within the tough world of profit and loss statements or making payroll. Season leaders have the one thing rookies will never have…experience. It’s not the rookies’ fault they don’t have experience, just a reality a lot of rookies forget. Rookies would do well to ask more questions and listen more than they speak. I wish I would have.
3. Rookies Name Drop.
Maybe it’s insecurity, or maybe it’s because they feel it makes them look more important or impressive. I think some do it because they feel it validates or gives credibility to their leadership.
Seasoned leaders usually are the name and they aren’t too impressed with themselves. They know other names but are confident in who they are and don’t need to prop up your opinion of them by dropping that name. If a seasoned leader mentions a name it’s usually because they want to help you, not use that name to help themselves.
4. Rookies Use Different Metrics.
In my world, rookie leaders are most concerned with the metrics of attendance and budgets. Those metrics are important metrics but I’ve never seen a seasoned leader lead with those questions. I think rookies lead with those because they are trying to figure out their rank in the pecking order.
Seasoned leaders start from a place of empathy…how long you’ve been leading in that position…did you start the organization…have you guys gone through a capital campaign…or some other growth pain. It almost seems to me that they are looking for a way to encourage the other leader. The seasoned leader isn’t trying to brag about how much bigger their project was but instead seems to be blowing wind in their sails to help them cross this next finish line.
When you are with other leaders in your field what type of questions are you asking? Ones that set you up to brag or ones that set you up to encourage or learn?
5. Rookies Try to be Yoda.
Rookies so desperately want to be viewed as a leader and the answer man. They become self-proclaimed experts after 3 years in a field…after working with one client…or reading a few books. They have it all figured out already. If they listen it’s out of courtesy instead of out of a desire to learn and gain wisdom.
Seasoned leaders seem to always be asking questions, learning new things, reading, attending conferences, listening to podcasts, seeking input and feedback…whatever they can do to get better because they understand the stakes are high.
Seasoned leaders realize they don’t know everything. In fact, that’s why they are a great leader. They have attracted experts around them in other areas in the organization so they can focus on the thing they do best. Seasoned leaders understand the strengths they have and what they know they freely share so you can take it and prosper. Seasoned leaders want you to be great! Rookie leaders want you to think they are already great. Seasoned leaders are trying to raise up new leaders to take over. Rookies just want to be a climber.
6. Rookies Try to Make Everyone Happy.
They mistakenly believe that with enough information and dialogue everyone will eventually come around. That if you lay things out in a logical fashion and give people time to understand and process the information they will see things as you do.
Seasoned leaders are comfortable in their own skin. They aren’t trying to change who they are so that others will like them. They know where they are headed and invite others to join them. Seasoned leaders understand that leadership at its fundamental level means you will lose people. If you aren’t losing a few people there’s a good chance your mission isn’t clear. As the leader you choose who you’ll lose by the stands you take. It’s a cost of leadership and you’ll have the scars to show for it.
7. Rookies Use Lots of Buzzwords.
From what I can tell from seasoned leaders there have always been buzzwords or catch phrases in each industry in each decade. It seems to me that cycle has shortened. In my first decade of leadership I can think of 3 buzzwords in the world I operate in…post-modern…missional…and now it seems that “gospel” is the new one. You can always tell what the buzzword is because a large number of books will use it in the title.
Seasoned leaders speak in terms of principles. Principles that transcend the latest fads and trends. Timeless wisdom handed down from seasoned leader to seasoned leader learned in the trenches.
Seasoned leaders didn’t get that way by just clocking birthdays…
or by being a cocky, ungrateful know-it-all, spouting buzzwords, and dropping names like a rookie. 🙂
A seasoned leader can always recognize another seasoned leader. They can also recognize a rookie who is trying too hard. I hope some day soon to join the ranks of a seasoned leader not for my own sake, but for those I have the honor of leading. When we see each other again hopefully we recognize each other as seasoned. Let’s work toward that end!
Question: What other behaviors have you observed in rookie leaders? Share your answer on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
