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       #Post#: 33--------------------------------------------------
       WHY LEADERS LOSE THEIR CURIOSITY
       By: IMPACT360 Date: November 28, 2014, 5:01 am
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       What causes leaders to quit being inquisitive?
       Leaders stop asking questions, and stunt their
       growth, due to insecurity, low self-esteem,
       arrogance, contentment, and distractedness. Let’s
       take a moment to examine each reason.
       Insecurity
       As leaders, we know others are looking to us for
       guidance, and thus we’re reluctant to reveal a lack
       of competence. After all, we want others to have
       confidence in our ability to lead. However, without
       inviting others to give you input, you not only
       won’t go as far in leadership, but the journey won’t
       be as fun since you’ll be traveling alone.
       Low Self-Esteem
       Many leaders, particularly those who are young,
       feel undeserving of the attention that a mentor
       could provide. They don’t feel wise enough, strong
       enough, mature enough, competent enough,
       confident enough, or qualified enough to take up
       the time of an experienced coach. Their sense of
       unworthiness holds them back from boldly seeking
       counsel from experts and veteran leaders in their
       field.
       Arrogance
       To succeed, leaders need to be humble before God
       and authentic with people. Practically, this means
       being willing to acknowledge our mistakes and to
       admit our weakness so that we can grow and
       change. If you insist on being right, you’re likely to
       go wrong and to cause your most talented people
       to search for a job someplace else where they’ll
       be heard.
       Contentment
       Like a dog that’s fat, happy, and lazy after a meal,
       leaders who experience success run the risk of
       becoming lethargic. Content to rest on past
       victories, they relax their approach to growth. The
       ambition that had previously spurred them on
       tends to dissipate.
       The danger of becoming overly contented is
       difficult to avoid because we naturally grow
       accustomed to our surroundings. Dysfunction,
       when seen and experienced long enough, becomes
       normal. We have particular difficulty recognizing it
       as long as the organization is enjoying profitability.
       However, as John F. Kennedy advised, “the time to
       repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” A
       leader’s responsibility to question assumptions,
       reconsider processes, and patch up problems
       doesn’t cease just because the team is doing well.
       Distractedness
       If you’ve enjoyed success in leadership, then you
       possess a primary skill set, or sweet spot, that
       helped you gain influence. Don’t allow yourself to
       be distracted from using it. When your focus shifts
       away from considering to best leverage your
       strengths, then you begin asking the wrong
       questions and neglecting the most important ones.
       Thought to Ponder
       Which of these five traps is most likely to sap your
       curiosity? How can you avoid it? Please comment
       below and share your thoughts.
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