Myths are false beliefs that we pick up somewhere in our lives and hold as truth until we learn to think differently about them. You might’ve believed that the Easter Bunny was real because your parents told you so, and you believed they were authority figures who wouldn’t lead you astray. You didn’t stop believing this myth until you found out the truth (that the Easter Bunny doesn’t deliver a basket to your house while you sleep) and dispelled it. It could’ve been a fellow classmate, a friend, television, or another source, but regardless, you received information that made you question your beliefs to that point.
In our industry, and most businesses, there are plenty of myths surrounding the correct way to run a business — that there is one elusive “perfect” team member, that achieving one specific goal will solve all your problems, and so on. In the coaching and training that I facilitate, I always notice that false beliefs about leadership run rampant, so this month I want to address the topic of specific leadership myths.