28 Discussions about leadership are everywhere – it’s all over LinkedIn, on podcasts and there’s plenty of quotes about vision, inspiration and ‘leading from the front’. In other words, business owners are told to ‘be a better leader’ without ever being shown what it actually means. They chase personality traits, attend motivational seminars and try to copy famous leaders without ever mastering the basics. As a result, a lot of people are trying to lead from shaky foundations. They’ve bought into leadership myths – well-meaning ideas which sound good on the surface but, in practice, lack substance and don’t deliver real results. Here, Brad breaks down the myths: MYTH 1: YOU CAN SKIP MANAGEMENT AND GO STRAIGHT TO LEADERSHIP There’s this idea that management is somehow outdated – a real thing of the past. It’s seen as rigid, bureaucratic and uninspiring. In contrast, leadership gets all the attention. People want to be visionaries, motivators, change-makers. But here’s the problem – you can’t build great leadership without the basics in place. I’ve walked into countless businesses with dozens of people holding managerial titles – but not a single one of them has been taught how to manage properly. Usually, they’d been sent on leadership courses, and these are useful – but leadership without management is like building a house without a foundation. Management is about process, structure and consistency. It’s what helps people do their jobs well, stay on track and feel capable. Without it, teams are left guessing. With it, deadlines get met without drama and leaders can focus on growth, not firefighting. Leadership, on the other hand, brings the energy – a leader’s role is about direction, focus and passion. But it’s crucial to remember, if your team doesn’t know what’s expected of them or how they’re being measured, no amount of inspiration will keep things on track. MYTH 2: LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT PERSONALITY Many people fall into the trap of thinking you have to be naturally charismatic or loud to be a good leader. They imagine leadership as a kind of ‘presence’ – something you either have or you don’t. In reality, leadership isn’t about being the most confident in the room – it is what you do and how you build. Brad breaks this down into three parts: • Framework – do you have the right building blocks in place? This means a clear mission, vision, culture and goals. • Skills – can you communicate clearly, make tough decisions, handle pressure and coach others effectively? • Personality – this shapes your leadership style, but it’s not the driver of your effectiveness. When leaders bring together framework, skills and personality, they create a culture people buy into and teams which stay confident under pressure. You could read every leadership book out there, but if you’re unable to give feedback constructively, get your team aligned or make decisions when it matters, you won’t lead effectively – regardless of your personality. MYTH 3: LEADERSHIP COMES WITH THE TITLE It’s also easy to assume getting a promotion or stepping into a senior role automatically makes you a leader. But leadership doesn’t come with a job title – it comes with action. True leadership isn’t about power or status. It’s about responsibility. It’s how you turn up for your team, how you create clarity in the chaos and how you earn trust over time. Leadership is earned by consistency – showing up, creating clarity and taking responsibility when things go wrong. The Leadership myths Brad Sugars, founder of ActionCOACH, breaks down the leadership myths which commonly trip up business owners – and shares what it takes to really lead effectively
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