What are some common bench-building errors?
In addition to knowing how to strengthen your bench, it is very important to know how to protect your bench. What are the destructive elements that can destroy a quality bench? What are the common errors made in building your bench? Here are a few:
· Don’t show favoritism: Perhaps it’s not fair, but people generally don’t like a teacher’s pet. Employees notice and often resent a member of the bench that gets special treatment in the form of extra praise or reduced criticism. To the best of your ability, treat your entire bench equally.
· Don’t be a “my way or the highway” leader: If you have advisors, let them advise. Let your bench do what they do best. Nothing kills morale and creativity faster than a team seeing you refuse an idea they worked hard to develop.
· Don’t get stagnant or complacent: John Maxwell said, “No great leader in history fought to prevent change.” The corporate world is a world of change, and your bench needs to be able to adapt. Add new voices to your bench as you need to, and bring new issues to your bench as soon as they come up, so that your bench can respond quickly.
Much of the responsibility for a strong bench falls on you and your ability to recognize and fight the forces that threaten your bench. These attacks may come from within, and you may need to alter your style of leadership or calm conflicts. At other times, these attacks may come from forces beyond your control, and you may need to manage your team’s adaptation to a changing business environment.