The Misconception Trap: Why Mimicking Other Leaders Doesn’t Guarantee Your Success

Last week, I started a three-part series to reveal the top three misconceptions about leadership.

Misconception 1: You need to have the right answers and solutions to every problem.

Today, let’s discuss the next biggest misconception.

Misconception 2

“Just imitate other successful leaders to succeed.”

It’s natural to admire successful leaders and their accomplishments. 

However, the reality is that many senior leaders have never received formal leadership training.

Instead, they have learned through trial and error, often replicating the behaviors and actions of the leaders who came before them.  

Sometimes, they are emulating behaviors that were not impactful or effective in the first place.

If you attempt to replicate the actions of senior leaders without critically assessing their approach, you may end up adopting bad habits that don’t align with your own leadership style.

For example, my client Leslie (her name has been changed to maintain confidentiality) works for a very direct and action-oriented leader. Her boss is great at clarifying his expectations with his team and always ensures that his projects are on time and on budget. When Leslie tried to emulate her boss’ style, it came across as inauthentic. 

In fact, her team started complaining that she wasn’t listening to them and was being very unsupportive. 

Leslie mentioned that she believed she needed to act like her boss in order to achieve results.

However, by behaving inauthentically, Leslie’s stress increased, and her relationship with her team was negatively impacted.

So, in my coaching conversations with Leslie, we discovered her authentic leadership style.

Leslie realized that being collaborative actually felt more natural for her. 

Once she started adopting a more curious and collaborative approach, her results started improving, as did her relationship with her team.

When you are authentic, your stress goes down, and your results go up!

Leadership is personal.

It’s about discovering your own authentic approach, not just copying someone else’s style. 

What works for them might not work for you.

Instead of imitating others, take the time to learn what effective leadership looks like for you! 

Seek out mentors, attend leadership development programs, read books, and invest in resources that can help you grow as a leader. 

By embracing your own individual style, you create a more genuine connection with your team, and this authenticity can be a powerful driver of success.