Here's how you can avoid common mistakes when advancing your leadership career as a mid-career professional.

Embrace change with a golden mindset. Adaptability and openness to new ideas are crucial for avoiding common mid-career mistakes and advancing your leadership journey

Junior leaders often ask me how to respond to "show more initiative" feedback from a senior leader. While responses can take many forms, the three that I have found to be the most effective are: 1) Regularly ask for feedback on your performance from peers and stakeholders then implement some of their suggestions. 2) Volunteer for cross-functional projects, committees, or initiatives that are important to your senior leader. Demonstrating that you can contribute beyond your immediate responsibilities. 4) Keep up to date with industry trends, company news, and the competitive landscape. Being well-informed allows you to have meaningful conversations with senior leaders.

Speak up. Be heard. But.... make it thoughtful and succinct. Senior leaders understand you do not have the same breath of experience nor situational understanding they have. But the willingness to engage and put forward relevant opinions / conclusions demonstrates you are engaged and willing to step up to the table.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Advancing Your Leadership Career: 1. Know Yourself: Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals. Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership. 2. Foster Authenticity: Lead with integrity and authenticity. Build trust by being genuine and transparent with your team 3. Invest in Skills: Continuously invest time and money in developing your leadership skills through courses, workshops, and coaching. 4. Seek Feedback: Regularly solicit feedback from peers, mentors, and team members to identify areas for improvement and growth. 5. Adapt and Learn: Stay open to new ideas and be willing to adapt your leadership style as needed. Continuous learning is vital in a dynamic business environment.

Be flexible and open to change. Embrace lifelong learning. Embrace new skills, technologies, and leadership methodologies. Keep Up with the Times, to be a Better Leader for the Changing Times The ability to pivot when needed is crucial for effective leadership.

Here are a few Tips to avoid common mistakes when advancing your leadership career as a mid-career professional 1. Stay humble and open to learning. 2. Seek and act on feedback. 3. Avoid overconfidence. 4. Keep learning and developing. 5. Delegate effectively. 6. Network actively. 7. Adapt to change. 8. Manage stress and prioritize self-care.

View change as an opportunity to learn and grow. Approach new challenges with a "growth mindset," believing your leadership skills can be developed through effort and experience. This inspires your team to embrace challenges too.

Be open to change and adaptable in the face of new challenges and opportunities. Flexibility is crucial in a dynamic work environment. Encourage innovative thinking and be willing to take calculated risks to drive progress.

A couple of the setbacks for mid managers to progressions is fear of change or risk taking, self belief developing other leaders. Its important to continually seek new opportunities to progress your skills and experience and use other environments to litmus test your progression and skills gaps. Continually developing the muscles of change and execution will build confidence and provide you with narratives to self belief and finally being able to create, delegate and create other leaders is a sign of leadership competency setting you up for future progression and success

Regularly ask for feedback from peers, subordinates, and supervisors to gain diverse perspectives on your leadership style and performance. Constructive Criticism: Embrace constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth. Use it to identify areas for improvement and to refine your approach to leadership. Feedback Mechanisms: Establish formal feedback mechanisms such as 360-degree reviews, anonymous surveys, and one-on-one meetings to facilitate honest and comprehensive feedback. Reflect and Act: Reflect on the feedback received and create actionable plans to address identified gaps. Demonstrating a commitment to personal development can enhance your credibility and effectiveness as a leader.

Actively seek feedback from peers, subordinates, and superiors to gain insights into your performance and areas for improvement. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as a tool for personal and professional growth.

Great leaders approach feedback with curiosity, a growth mindset, humility, and gratitude. They know it will help them have greater success and bigger impact. Questions On Leadership: How can I build more trust, enthusiasm, and commitment? How do people describe my strengths and weaknesses? What do you need from me that you are not getting? Name one thing I can improve in(leadership skill.) For feedback on the business: If we were starting from scratch, what markets, products, strategy, processes, people, etc. would you choose? How can I make it easier to give feedback? NOTICE: What personal patterns do you recognize about challenging relationships/situations? Ask others to help you understand what you can change/do. Act on feedback!

Don't just seek feedback from superiors. Solicit honest opinions from colleagues, direct reports, and even clients. This 360-degree perspective gives you a well-rounded understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement.

One of the major mistakes we do while advancing into the next level is the lack of networking. Cultivate strong, authentic relationships. Networking is more than just making contacts; it's about building trust and mutual respect, which inturn will help you make the right power moves in the future.

Seek to expand your professional network both within and outside your organization. Attend industry conferences and engage in networking events Cultivate Relationships: Focus on building meaningful relationships rather than just collecting contacts. Take the time to understand your peers' and mentors' perspectives, and find ways to provide value to them Leverage Mentors: Identify and connect with mentors who can provide guidance and insights based on their own experiences. Mentorship can be invaluable for navigating career transitions Reciprocate Support: Offer your support and expertise to others in your network. Networking is a two-way street, and being a resource for others can strengthen your professional relationships

Go beyond collecting business cards. Actively connect people within your network who can benefit from knowing each other. Being a connector builds trust, strengthens relationships, and positions you as a valuable resource.

Recognize Stressors: Identify the key sources of stress in your professional life. Awareness of what triggers your stress is the first step toward managing it effectively. Develop Coping Strategies: Implement techniques such as mindfulness, exercise, and time management to reduce stress. These strategies can help you maintain a clear and focused mind, essential for leadership. Work-Life Balance: Ensure a healthy balance between your work and personal life. Overworking can lead to burnout, which impairs decision-making and leadership abilities. Set boundaries to protect your time for relaxation By managing stress proactively, you can maintain well-being, make better decisions, and lead more effectively, thus avoiding leadership mistakes.

Prioritize your well-being. A healthy leader makes better decisions and inspires a positive team environment. Promote healthy habits within your team and lead by example.

Identify Key Tasks: Recognize which tasks can be delegated and which require your direct involvement. Prioritizing effectively ensures that critical tasks receive your attention while others are managed by a capable Choose the Right People: Assign tasks based on your team members' strengths and expertise. Matching tasks with the right skill sets not only ensures quality work but also motivates your team. Provide Clear Instructions: When delegating, offer clear and concise instructions. Define the goals, expectations, and deadlines to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that tasks are completed efficiently. By delegating, you can focus on strategic decision-making, enhance team productivity, and avoid the pitfalls of micromanagement

Delegation isn't just about workload; it's about empowering your team. Provide clear expectations, support, and opportunities for growth. This builds trust, motivation, and fosters future leaders within your team.

Delegating is the secret key to growth, mainly if you are in the middle of your career. Delegation will leave you in a win-win situation. On one hand, delegation will help you develop new skills and talents, and on the other hand, it will help your team become more capable.

Always think about what could be done better? Any venture or action you do, whether its a success or failure, always reflect upon it. See it from various angles and perspectives, and see what you could have done or approached a problem to solve it.

I refelct on a yearly, monthly, weekly and daily basis. It does not take as much time, as one may think. If you do it on a regular basis, it becomes a habit. Did you write down your goals? Do you track your progress? And how do you learn from you mistakes? Journaling is very helpful in this regard. I also do 2-3 retreats per year. Just me, my journals and a nice apartment I rent. I prepared a questionaire, which I repeat every time to see where I stand. This is very good investment of your time.

Empathy is a crucial yet often overlooked leadership skill. Take time to understand your team members' perspectives and challenges. For example, during a stressful project, I scheduled one-on-one check-ins to listen to concerns and offer support. This simple act of empathy improved morale and team cohesion. By genuinely caring about your team's well-being and fostering an environment of understanding, you build stronger relationships and create a more resilient, motivated team. Empathy enhances your ability to lead effectively and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.

Here’s what else to consider Continual Learning: Stay updated with industry trends, leadership techniques, and new technologies. This ensures you remain relevant and can bring fresh perspectives to your role. Seek Mentorship: Find mentors who can provide guidance, share their experiences, and offer advice. Learning from others' journeys can help you avoid common pitfalls and gain valuable insights. Balance Work and Life: Maintain a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout. Prioritizing self-care and personal time enhances your ability to lead effectively and make sound decisions. Considering these additional strategies can help you navigate the complexities of advancing your leadership career and achieve long-term success.

Most mid-level managers I've come across lack a systematic approach to learning the craft of leadership--not least because the vast majority of people who find themselves in leadership roles have received no training whatsoever! Management (particularly when you become a manager of managers) is a difficult balance that requires mastery of eight different capabilities: - Goal Setting - Hiring - Delegation - Performance Mgmt - Communication - Managing Up - Creating Your Leadership Style - Building a Great Culture You don't need to learn these all at once. I recommend focusing on the ones you feel you need immediately, then moving on. Most importantly, carve out several hours per week to work on your skills!

A powerful way to avoid frequent mistakes is to: 1️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞's experience: mentors, books, any other form of reliable information 2️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 and decide wether what you read / hear is applicable to your case. Bad information, too, is readily available... This being said, while you don't wan't to make frequent mistakes, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠. Otherwise, you won't take action, nor learn fast enough.