What do you do if your performance evaluations reveal gaps in leadership competencies?

Start with an open discussion with your team, acknowledging these gaps and committing to improve. Create a development plan targeting specific areas that need to be addressed, like decision-making or communication. Spice up the learning process with mentorship pairings, role-playing scenarios, and simulations that mirror real-life challenges in a learning-centric environment. Encourage individual growth goals and engage in team-wide activities like workshops or peer feedback sessions to foster collective development. Maintain open communication through regular check-ins, celebrating progress, and learning from any roadblocks encountered.

Awareness and acknowledgment are the first steps to improvement. When you become aware and are ready to embrace the shortfall, you open yourself up for new learning and improve immensely. Many leaders live in denial. They think they have it all but lack one of many competencies. As a result, they find it challenging to get that next promotion or coveted project. They get frustrated when their efforts are not working. They need to realize that they have significant gaps in their leadership competencies. Don't be like such leaders.

Acknowledge areas for growth, seek mentorship or training, set clear goals for improvement, and consistently apply newfound knowledge to enhance leadership skills.

In addition to seeking feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or coaches, it is important to take proactive steps to address the gaps in your leadership competencies. This may involve investing in professional development opportunities such as leadership training programs, workshops, or executive coaching sessions. Setting clear goals and creating a development plan to work on specific areas of improvement can help you track your progress and ensure you are actively working towards enhancing your leadership skills. It is also beneficial to seek opportunities to put your newfound knowledge and skills into practice, such as leading cross-functional projects or taking on challenging assignments that push you outside of your comfort zone

When addressing gaps in leadership skills, it's crucial to seek feedback that goes beyond general observations. Specific situations provide clarity on what's lacking and when, empowering individuals to target areas for improvement effectively. Without this specificity, the feedback may lack actionable insights needed for growth.

Create a plan for daily consistent improvement. Even if you improve 1% daily, that's a 365% improvement from the previous year. Therefore, create a concrete plan and stick to small tasks that lead to little by little daily improvement.

When you want to grow and succeed, you should be willing to invest your time, money, and other resources to grab the knowledge needed quickly. Get a mentor or work with a coach to help you guide through your challenges and take you from point A to Z.

Always consider why. Why do these gaps exist? What’s causing them? What’s blocking them? Are they clear to everyone? Does everyone feel connected to them? Is it clear how they are measured? Have they committed to those measures? Do they have the competence AND the confidence to achieve these measures?