Ethan Sterling
When someone takes charge, you know they’re a leader; when someone steps back, they’re a follower.
Stepping into a leadership role—whether at work, in relationships, or in your personal life—requires more than just ambition.
But, let’s be honest, it’s not always that straightforward; the path to being a leader is littered with pitfalls and bad habits we need to shed.
Leadership starts with letting go of habits that undermine your growth and influence.
Here are 8 behaviors to leave behind if you’re ready to embrace your potential as a true leader:
1) Worrying about what others think
Most of us let the opinions of others shape our actions, even when we know deep down it’s not the right thing to do—like a constant background noise that never really goes away.
But here’s the thing: If you want to be a leader, you need to mute this noise.
Being a leader means making tough calls, even when they’re not popular, and standing up for what you believe in despite possible criticism.
Trust your instincts, make your decisions with conviction and remember—the only opinion that truly matters is your own.
2) Avoiding conflict
I used to be the type of person who’d do anything to avoid conflict.
I thought keeping the peace meant always agreeing, always nodding along, even when I didn’t really agree.
Then I realized something: Avoiding conflict doesn’t make you a peacemaker, it just makes you a pushover.
One day at work, there was a major decision to be made and I didn’t agree with the popular opinion.
Instead of keeping quiet like usual, I voiced my concerns and it led to a heated discussion, but guess what? It also led to a better decision!
Leadership is also about managing it effectively, standing your ground when it matters, and finding a resolution that’s in everyone’s best interest.
True leaders don’t shy away from conflict, they tackle it.
3) Fearing failure
The lightbulb, one of the most revolutionary inventions of all time, was the result of over a thousand failed attempts.
Thomas Edison, its inventor, didn’t see these as failures though—rather, he saw them as steps on the path to success.
Leadership is no different because, if you’re so scared of failing that you never take risks or make bold decisions, you’re just playing it safe.
Failure is a detour that leads you to the right path.
Don’t fear failure—embrace it, learn from it and use it as a stepping stone to success.
4) Being a perfectionist
We’ve all been told at some point that if we want to succeed, we need to be perfect—the perfect plan, the perfect execution, the perfect everything.
But here’s the hard truth: Perfection is but a myth.
Constantly chasing after perfection means you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment, and wasting precious time and energy that could be used to make real progress.
As a leader, your focus should be on progress and moving forward, including making mistakes and learning from them along the way.
Accept the beauty of imperfection and think ahead.
5) Procrastinating
I’ll be the first to admit: I’m a master procrastinator—or at least, I used to be.
I’d put off tasks until the last minute, thinking I work best under pressure, but all that did was cause unnecessary stress and often, subpar results.
As I started taking on more leadership roles, I realized that procrastination is a luxury leaders can’t afford.
Decisions need to be made, and they need to be made in a timely manner.
I had to learn to prioritize my tasks and manage my time effectively—it wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
In leadership, time is of the essence and every moment counts.
6) Always being in control
It might seem strange, but one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a leader is trying to control everything.
You see, leadership also focuses on guiding your team and empowering them to do their best.
When you try to control everything, you’re essentially telling your team that you don’t trust them—and that’s not what good leaders do.
Good leaders delegate; they trust their team and give them the freedom to take ownership of their work.
Trust your team, delegate tasks and remember—leadership is about guidance, not control.
7) Neglecting self-care
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of leadership; there’s always a decision to be made, a problem to be solved, a goal to be reached.
Amidst all this, it’s crucial not to neglect self-care.
You can’t pour from an empty cup so, if you’re constantly running on empty, your performance will suffer and so will your team’s.
Make time for yourself by either exercising, meditating, reading a book, or doing whatever it is that helps you recharge.
Taking care of your well-being is necessary for effective leadership.
8) Ignoring feedback
Feedback is the cornerstone of growth—without it, we’re just guessing.
Great leaders seek, listen, and learn from the feedback they receive on a regular basis.
It’s not always easy to hear criticism, but it’s necessary enough to show you where you need to improve and how you can become a better leader.
No matter how gentle, moderate, or harsh the feedback you, as the leader, receive, shape yourself to take it as genuine criticism that shouldn’t be ignored.
With feedback, you must learn to embrace it, learn from it, and grow from it—that’s the mark of a true leader.
Leadership is a journey
If you’ve made it this far, hopefully, you’ve realized that leadership is about being humble, open to feedback, and letting go of behaviors that hold you back.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”
This statement encapsulates the essence of true leadership—empathy, understanding, and emotional intelligence.
Stepping into leadership is a journey of growth and self-discovery and, along the way, certain behaviors may hold you back but recognizing and releasing them can unlock your potential.
Take a moment to reflect: Are there habits you need to let go of?
Each step in doing so brings you closer to becoming not just a stronger leader but a better version of yourself.
Leadership is more than a title—it’s a mindset and a way of living—and it all begins with you.
