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There are hundreds of best-selling books that touch on the topic of business leadership. Some are how-to manuals that purport to show the pathway to the top. Others delve into the topic and analyze the personal characteristics that make for an effective leader in the business world. But, along with all the wonderful explanations and research, there are all kinds of myths bandied about, many of which have worked their way into the popular media and society.
Review the following leadership-related myths and see which ones you’ve been tempted to believe. Unfortunately, new ones pop up all the time in online discussion forums, so be on the lookout for fresh, unsubstantiated claims. It’s never too late to learn the truth, especially if you hope to head up a company or department sometime in the future.
Leaders are Born, Not Made
The potential to become a leader is not inborn or based on luck, though a bit of good fortune helps in some cases. However, the main ingredients are hard work, patience, experience, and education, ambition, drive, perseverance. People often point to someone like George Washington as a born leader, but that example is weak.
The great general had a difficult childhood, floundered in his early attempts at business and military affairs, and ended up commanding the Revolutionary Army troops almost by chance. His skills were earned and learned along the way, not in his genetics. The most famous founders, CEOs, managers, and entrepreneurs, with very few exceptions, worked their way to the top, learned from the mistakes they made along the way, and underwent personal transformations in the process.
College Diplomas are Unnecessary
There are exceptions to the college diploma rule, but they are rare in the 2020s. Why not aim for the highest probability of success by earning a legitimate college degree, financing it, and then landing an entry-level position in your field after graduation? What’s the best way to pay for schooling?
Student loans are not only the most common but also the most economical method. Prospective students who use all-in-one platforms, like the Marketplace by Navient, can do in-depth searches for personalized interest rates on college loans in a single online location. An online marketplace saves you time and money because you avoid the need to visit dozens of websites and can see all your customized loan information at a glance.
You Must Become a Workaholic
This major bit of misinformation is on display in Hollywood films and television productions. It’s not only dead wrong, but the opposite is true. It’s actually necessary to avoid the habits of workaholism in order to become an effective manager, department head, or CEO.
While intensive overwork can lead to short-term business success, most people who do well in commercial enterprises have balanced lives. Most are family types who raise children, have outside interests, maintain positive attitudes, and know how to relax. Workaholics who don’t change their ways tend to suffer burnout, retire early, or encounter severe health problems that cut their careers short.
Bootcamps Don’t Work
Bootcamps are getting a bad reputation these days as many in the media feel that intensive training sessions, usually over long weekends or for longer periods, are not effective for nurturing leadership skills. The world’s largest corporations, however, remain committed to numerous types of skill-building camps, weekends, and intensives. The evidence speaks for itself, as graduates from the courses report higher productivity, better attitudes, and generally positive results.
The Most Competent People Rise to the Top
No one rises to the top of anything in a highly competitive professional environment like the modern world of commerce. Getting to the highest rung of the ladder calls for negotiation skills, education, relevant experience, the ability to endure temporary setbacks, patience, perseverance, people skills, and a positive mental disposition. Some of the most competent people in the corporate world lead no one and have zero ambition to scale the heights of management.
In government agencies and a few very large structured corporations, it is possible to rise from entry-level positions to several steps up the ladder. But promotions based on seniority are nothing more than well-disguised pay raises and have nothing to do with leadership. Leaders promote themselves by virtue of proactive behavior, competent performance, and a desire for upward mobility.
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