How do I handle the gap when my leadership team rates my leadership a five but I think I am an eight?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Discovering a significant gap between your self-evaluation and your team's perception of your leadership is painful but necessary for growth. If you rate yourself an eight and your team rates you a five, you have major leadership blind spots. This gap usually exists because you are focusing on your intentions, while your team is experiencing your actual behavior. To handle this, do not get defensive or try to justify your actions. You must accept full responsibility for your leadership and the current state of your relationships. Schedule individual conversations with your team members to seek specific, constructive feedback. Use this feedback to identify where you are failing to provide clarity, support, or direction. You may need to shift from a positional leadership style, where you rely on your title to get things done, to a relationship-based style where you actively build trust and influence. Focus on performing your primary roles on the Accountability Chart with consistent excellence. Develop a personal growth plan that includes leadership training, reading, and peer advisory groups. Closing this gap is critical because your business can only grow as fast as your leadership ability allows. If you do not raise your leadership lid, you will cap the company's growth.