5 Things Novice Leaders Do That Advanced Leaders Don’t

The following are five things novice leaders do that advance leaders don’t:

Novice leaders minimize experience, advanced leaders don’t.

On Thursday, May 24th, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 in double overtime in the NHL’s Western Conference Finals.  It is the Oilers second trip to the conference finals in three seasons.  Their experience is proving valuable.

Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse said in this article from The Athletic, “The more experience you get in different situations, the more comfortable you get, and that’s no different here (with) this being our second time in three years being in this position.  Obviously, the first time we didn’t make the most of the opportunity.  So this is a good opportunity to show what we’ve learned over the last couple years.”

Experience, when properly evaluated and leveraged, gives you comfort and the wisdom needed to take advantage of opportunities.

Novice leaders love meetings and spend a lot of time in them, advanced leaders don’t.

Business executive Jay Ferro gives the following insight:

“The three stages of career development are:

1. I want to be in the meeting

2. I want to run the meeting

3. I want to avoid meetings.”

I have reached the third stage of my career development.  Where do you stand?

Novice leaders treat people like cogs in a wheel, advanced leaders don’t.

After winning the Premier League title, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports, “Evolving, no.  Give me these players… We adapt to the skills of the players.  ‘Because I have an idea every player must adapt to my idea,’ no no no.  It’s not about that.”

Rigidity and forcing those on your team “into your box” is not in a leader’s best interest.  Successful leaders like Gaurdiola identify the skills of those on their teams and build their organizational strategies around them.

Novice leaders succumb to pressure, advanced leaders don’t.

During the same interview, Guardiola said of the 2024 Premier League Player of the Year Phil Foden, “Phil has his talents.  He has been nominated the best player of the league – in the big event, on the biggest stage, he did it.  So that’s why he’s the best.”

Tom Brady said in the documentary The Brady 6, “To me what separates really good players from great players – executive well under pressure.  The biggest game.  The biggest stage.  That’s what playing quarterback is all about.”

Simply put, big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.

Novice leaders focus a lot of their time and attention on the competition, advanced leaders don’t.

Speaking of pressurized events and big-time moments, few things can match the Olympics.

There was less than five meters to go in the 1988 Olympic Men’s 200 meter backstroke.  Uzbekistanian swimmer Sergei Zabolotnov was about to win the Bronze Medal as he had a head-length lead over fourth-place Paul Kingsman.  But then he made a mistake many leaders often make.  Zabolotnov took his eyes of the goal and twice glanced over at Kingsman.

Kingsman later told Billy Oppenheimer, “(Zabolotnov) was more focused on looking at me than finishing the race, (and he) cost himself four one-hundredths of a second.”

This opened the door for Kingsman to pass Zabolotnov and win the Bronze Medal.  Distractions, even ones as small as four one-hundredths of a second, can be devastating to a leader.

Zabolotnov returned to Uzbekistan without a medal but an important life lesson.  Top leaders focus more on what they are doing than what the competition is.

Conclusion

What can we learn from advanced leaders:

1. Experience, when properly evaluated and leveraged, gives you comfort and the wisdom needed to take advantage of opportunities.
2. Avoid meetings whenever possible.
3. Identify the skills of those on your team and build your organizational strategies around them.
4. Know what separates really good players from great players – the ability to executive well under pressure.
5. Focus on your own performance more than the competition.

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