What if the biggest obstacle to your business’s success is how you’re leading your team? Much like in sports, your leadership can make or break your business performance. In this post, we’re tackling the top five leadership mistakes service business owners are making—and, more importantly, how you can make game-winning adjustments to overcome them.
Read on to avoid these common leadership fumbles and turn your team into a championship-winning crew!
1. Micromanaging Your Team
One of the most common mistakes leaders make is micromanaging. While the intention is usually to ensure everything runs smoothly, micromanaging stifles innovation and discourages your team from taking initiative.
How to Fix It:
- Empower Ownership: Delegate responsibilities with clear expectations and allow your team to take ownership of their work.
- Focus on Outcomes, Not Processes: Shift your focus from how tasks are completed to evaluating results.
- Set Clear Guidelines: Provide clear instructions, deadlines, and goals, then step back and trust your team to get the job done.
Example: Joe, the owner of a small plumbing business, struggled with micromanaging. Once he empowered his lead tech, Sarah, with clear responsibilities and regular check-ins, she felt trusted and performed more efficiently. This freed Joe to focus on growth rather than day-to-day operations.
2. Lack of Clear Communication
Effective communication is the foundation of a successful team. When communication is unclear, it leads to confusion, missed deadlines, and disengagement from your team.
How to Fix It:
- Establish a Meeting Rhythm: Set regular team, leadership, and one-on-one meetings to ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Use Visual Aids and Documentation: Incorporate playbooks, checklists, and visual aids to provide clarity.
- Clarify Roles and Responsibilities: Make sure each team member understands their role and what winning looks like in their position.
Example: Mike, owner of an HVAC company, saw his team missing deadlines due to poor communication. By setting up weekly meetings and providing a whiteboard to track jobs, his team became more organized and efficient.
3. Neglecting Employee Development
Your employees are the backbone of your business, and their growth directly impacts your success. Neglecting team development can lead to stagnation, disengagement, and high turnover.
How to Fix It:
- Schedule Regular Training Sessions: Hold at least one training session a month—focus on both hard and soft skills.
- Create Individual Development Plans: Work with each employee to set personal and professional goals, with actionable steps to help them grow.
- Encourage Cross-Training: Give your team the chance to learn multiple roles to create a more adaptable workforce.
Example: Tom, owner of a roofing company, saw high turnover and low morale. By implementing bi-weekly training sessions and creating development plans, Tom was able to increase employee engagement and retention.
4. Avoiding Difficult Conversations
Avoiding tough talks only allows small issues to grow into larger problems. Without addressing conflict, team morale drops, and productivity suffers.
How to Fix It:
- Address Issues Promptly: Don’t let problems linger. Tackle them head-on as they arise.
- Give Constructive Feedback: Focus on specific behaviors, not character, using the Radical Candor framework—care personally, challenge directly.
- Encourage Openness: Foster a culture where team members feel comfortable voicing concerns and suggestions.
Example: Linda, who runs a house cleaning business, avoided conflict among her team, which hurt morale and productivity. Once she started addressing issues as they came up and gave constructive feedback, her team’s trust in leadership grew and so did their productivity.
5. Inconsistent Accountability
Accountability is crucial for maintaining high standards, but inconsistent accountability sends the message that mediocrity is acceptable. It erodes trust and diminishes ownership.
How to Fix It:
- Implement a Performance Tracking System: Use tools like Google Sheets to track progress against goals and create a simple leaderboard.
- Lead by Example: Hold yourself accountable to the same standards as your team.
- Set Clear Expectations: Define what happens when goals are met and missed. Use praise over punishment to reinforce positive behaviors.
Example: Mark, a construction business owner, found that his team’s declining performance was due to inconsistent accountability. By creating a performance tracking system and holding everyone—including himself—accountable, Mark was able to improve team performance and meet deadlines more consistently.
Leading a service-based business is no small feat, but by addressing these five common leadership mistakes, you can transform your team into a championship-winning crew. Whether it’s empowering your employees, communicating more effectively, or holding everyone accountable, small adjustments can lead to big wins for your business.
Ready to take your leadership game to the next level? Schedule a FREE Business Leadership Audit with Desi Mayner and discover the four essential meetings every service business owner needs. [Link to scheduling page]