Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast: "6 Habits Great Leaders Avoid, Part 2"

Release Date: February 6, 2025

In the second installment of his insightful series, Craig Groeschel delves deeper into the detrimental habits that can hinder effective leadership. Building upon the foundation laid in the previous episode, Groeschel explores three additional habits that great leaders consciously avoid: micromanaging, hiding in leadership, and hesitation. Through a blend of practical advice, personal anecdotes, and motivational insights, Groeschel equips leaders with the tools necessary to foster trust, empower their teams, and drive organizational success.

1. Habit 4: Micromanaging

Understanding Micromanagement

Groeschel begins by addressing one of the most pervasive bad habits in leadership: micromanaging. He underscores that micromanagers destroy trust, limit leadership development, and increase employee turnover—[00:05] he states, "If you won't let good leaders lead, good leaders won't stay."

Impacts of Micromanagement

• Destroying Trust: Micromanagers make team members feel devalued and disempowered. Groeschel emphasizes, "If you don't feel trusted, you'll never consistently bring your best," highlighting the erosion of trust vital for team cohesion.

• Limiting Leadership Development: Constant oversight stifles initiative and risk-taking. Team members become hesitant to share ideas or take ownership, fearing criticism for potential failures.

• Increasing Turnover: Over time, the lack of trust and opportunities for growth leads to higher employee turnover, undermining organizational stability.

Overcoming Micromanagement

Groeschel advises leaders to shift their focus from "how" tasks are done to "what" needs to be accomplished. [00:20] He advises, "Focus on the what, not the how," encouraging leaders to set clear outcomes and trust their teams to achieve them using their unique approaches. By being clear about expectations, rewarding desired outcomes, and correcting deviations, leaders can foster an environment of trust and autonomy.

2. Habit 5: Hiding in Leadership

The Pitfalls of Concealing Authenticity

Next, Groeschel tackles the habit of hiding in leadership. Leaders often feel compelled to project confidence and perfection, fearing that vulnerability might undermine their authority. [15:30] He shares a personal anecdote: "I was doing a message on the weekend for our church recently... I just got lost... I was so embarrassed."

Consequences of Hiding

• Loss of Relatability: By concealing imperfections, leaders become less relatable. Groeschel notes, "When you stop being real, you stop being relatable," emphasizing the importance of authenticity in building meaningful connections.

• Erosion of Trust: Transparency fosters trust, while pretense breaks it. Vulnerability allows for deeper connections, as Groeschel explains, "You can’t have trust without connection, and you can’t have connection without vulnerability."

• Isolation: Hiding struggles leads to isolation, limiting a leader's perspective and diminishing their ability to lead effectively. Authentic connections are crucial for emotional health and collaborative success.

Embracing Authenticity

Groeschel encourages leaders to embrace their true selves, admitting imperfections to build genuine trust. He asserts, "People want to connect with you as a person, not just like the image of this great, flawless leader." By sharing vulnerabilities and being transparent, leaders can cultivate stronger, more resilient teams.

3. Habit 6: Hesitation

The Cost of Indecisiveness

In the final segment, Groeschel addresses hesitation—a common stumbling block for many leaders. Hesitation can stem from insecurity, fear of making wrong decisions, or the desire for perfection. [30:00] He shares a story of a candidate who hesitated to accept a job offer, illustrating how indecision can be perceived negatively: "Indecision is the enemy of progress."

Effects of Hesitation

• Drained Momentum: Hesitation stalls progress, making it difficult to maintain momentum within the organization.

• Destroyed Morale: Teams become discouraged when leadership is indecisive, leading to diminished trust and flat organizational growth.

• Missed Opportunities: Delayed decisions can result in lost opportunities and reduced organizational agility.

Strategies to Overcome Hesitation

Groeschel provides three actionable strategies to combat hesitation:

1. Avoid Overthinking: Leaders often mask fear and lack of confidence with excessive analysis. Groeschel advises, "You're almost never gonna have all the information. It's almost impossible to get all the facts," encouraging leaders to make informed decisions without waiting for perfection.

2. Embrace Imperfection: Accept that no leader is perfect. Groeschel adapts Sheryl Sandberg’s philosophy: "Done now is better than perfect," advocating for decisive action over stalled perfectionism.

3. Set Decision Deadlines: Implementing artificial deadlines can help balance thoughtful consideration with timely action. Groeschel recommends, "Set decision deadlines" to create accountability and prevent procrastination.

By adopting these strategies, leaders can enhance their decisiveness, maintain organizational momentum, and build stronger, more trusting teams.

Conclusion: Building the Right Habits

Groeschel wraps up the episode by reinforcing the importance of cultivating positive leadership habits to replace detrimental ones. He emphasizes that leadership is a continuous journey of growth and improvement. By eliminating micromanaging, hiding, and hesitation, leaders can create environments of trust, empowerment, and progress.

Key Takeaways:

• Trust Your Team: Shift focus from controlling the "how" to defining clear "what" outcomes.
• Be Authentic: Embrace vulnerability to build genuine connections and trust.
• Be Decisive: Overcome hesitation by avoiding overthinking, embracing imperfection, and setting decision deadlines.

Groeschel's compelling insights serve as a valuable guide for leaders seeking to refine their leadership style and drive their organizations toward greater success. By conscientiously avoiding these six bad habits, leaders can unlock their full potential and inspire their teams to achieve remarkable outcomes.