# What Most Leaders Do, But Great Leaders Don’t Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-06-23 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Leadership Lessons for Success: Embrace Change, Avoid Meta Description: Learn valuable leadership lessons from Alyssa Phillips, COO of HCR Wealth Advisors. Embrace change, avoid comparisons, and build a strong team for success. URL: https://financedigest.com/what-most-leaders-do-but-great-leaders-donthtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/bb-1736815625287-compressed.jpg) ![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/alyssa-phillips-450x675-1736815625243-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Alyssa Phillips,_** _Chief Operating Officer, HCR Wealth Advisors_ Over the years, I’ve worked in sports and entertainment, restaurant franchise management, consumer products manufacturing and distribution and [wealth management](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-credit-suisse-collapse-threatens-switzerlands-wealth-management-crown.html "Analysis-Credit Suisse collapse threatens Switzerland’s wealth management crown"). The companies have spanned from startup to growth and mature phases, and my [experience has afforded me the perspective to glean some lessons that transcend a specific company](https://www.financedigest.com/poor-user-experience-plaguing-wealth-management-firms-warns-radical-company.html "Poor user experience plaguing wealth management firms, warns Radical Company") or industry. As a leader, I constantly seek out [ways to improve](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-improve-your-business-finances.html "5 Ways to Improve Your Business Finances"), and in that quest, I particularly appreciate the opportunity to hear about the obstacles that others have faced. So, to that end, here are some hard won lessons in [leadership that I hope will help you to avoid some bumps and bruises along the way](https://www.financedigest.com/six-ways-women-in-leadership-can-make-an-impact.html "Six ways women in leadership can make an impact"). **#1 – Don’t Be Afraid of Change** We all know that change is inevitable, but how many of us actually embrace it? As leaders, it is imperative that we do, otherwise how else will our team/company survive in this constantly [evolving world](https://www.financedigest.com/the-evolving-world-of-work-what-next-for-employers.html "The Evolving World Of Work – What Next For Employers?")? Although sometimes difficult, change can be an agent for [improvement in ways](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-data-integration-solutions-are-helping-financial-organizations-deliver-improved-outcomes.html "5 Ways Data Integration Solutions Are Helping Financial Organizations Deliver Improved Outcomes") you may not even see initially. An all too relevant example in these days of the Great Resignation is receiving an abrupt notice that a [team member](https://www.financedigest.com/playground-xyz-appoints-new-team-members-as-it-solidifies-its-position-as-a-leader-in-the-attention-space.html "Playground xyz appoints new team members as it solidifies its position as a leader in the attention space") is leaving. While this may cause a strain on the team until a replacement is found, it also creates the opportunity to [assess](https://www.financedigest.com/opportunity-assessment-of-rail-wheel-and-axle-market-reveals-lucrative-prospects-for-manufacturers.html "Opportunity Assessment of Rail Wheel And Axle Market Reveals Lucrative Prospects for Manufacturers") the newly vacant role for any adjustments that may better serve the team/company and allow you the opportunity to find an even better fit, which will pay dividends in the long run. We can’t control what happens, but we can control how we respond, so when you are [faced with unsolicited change](https://www.financedigest.com/the-changing-face-of-peer-to-peer.html "THE CHANGING FACE OF PEER-TO-PEER"), just focus on figuring out the silver lining and pushing ahead. **#2 – Don’t Compare Yourself to Others** This is not to say that there isn’t value in reviewing relevant benchmarks and [studies to have appropriate context](https://www.financedigest.com/playground-xyz-shines-a-light-on-the-nuanced-interplay-between-context-creativity-and-attention-for-advertisers-in-new-study.html "Playground xyz shines a light on the nuanced interplay between context, creativity and attention for advertisers in new study"). But I can’t tell you how many [times I’ve seen good leaders](https://www.financedigest.com/allowing-yourself-time-to-grow-as-a-leader-consciously-will-enable-you-to-support-your-team-authentically.html "Allowing yourself time to grow as a leader, consciously, will enable you to support your team authentically") get caught up in the comparison game with competitors, so much so that they’re blinded to what’s going on in their own company. This was a tough [lesson for a competitive athlete like me to learn](https://www.financedigest.com/learning-the-lessons-of-the-bangladesh-bank-heist.html "LEARNING THE LESSONS OF THE BANGLADESH BANK HEIST"), but over the years I have seen the benefit in measuring against my yesterday, rather than my competitors, to find areas for improvement. My personal philosophy is kaizen, which [essentially means continuous](https://www.financedigest.com/why-anti-spoofing-fingerprint-technology-is-essential-for-the-continued-growth-of-digital-payments.html "Why anti-spoofing fingerprint technology is essential for the continued growth of digital payments") improvement and change for the better, and this is also my approach to business. The focus on looking inward for [opportunity for growth](https://www.financedigest.com/aluminum-cans-market-tremendous-growth-opportunity-trends-with-key-players.html "Aluminum Cans Market Tremendous Growth, Opportunity, Trends With Key Players") has served me quite well and prevents me from getting caught in the comparison vortex. **#3 – Don’t Try to Do It All Yourself** Many leaders are control freaks. Your company is your baby, you care about it, so you seek to control everything you can, but it isn’t scalable for you to do everything forever. If you want to really grow, [you’ll need](https://www.financedigest.com/common-uses-for-bridging-loans-and-what-youll-need-to-get-one.html "Common Uses for Bridging Loans and What You’ll Need to Get One") to develop a team around you that complements (and challenges) what you bring to the table. Eventually we all learn this, but the key is when. If you ask others when they learned this, they will say that they wished they would have figured it out sooner. So here is your sign to consult the subject matter experts (SMEs) and surround yourself with people who have diverse knowledge, [skills and abilities](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-collaboration-and-skills-shortage-is-limiting-organisations-ability-to-meet-ifrs-9-requirements.html "Lack of collaboration and skills shortage is limiting organisations’ ability to meet IFRS 9 requirements") (KSAs), ASAP. **#4 – Don’t Be Afraid to Look Within** Do you want people to follow you because they have to or because they want to? If it’s the latter, it’s [important to realize that the most effective leaders](https://www.financedigest.com/leaders-recognise-the-importance-of-green-transport-at-cop27-but-we-need-data.html "Leaders recognise the importance of green transport at COP27, but we need data") are those who can (and frequently do) look within. You have to figure out [ways to be introspective and get constructive](https://www.financedigest.com/3-ways-to-safeguard-and-include-women-in-construction.html "3 ways to safeguard and include women in construction") feedback to continuously improve, because the way you conduct yourself will trickle down into the entire organization. There’s no “do as I say, not as I do” when you’re a leader. You have to walk the walk, and in order to do that, you [need to take a hard look in the mirror and find ways to improve](https://www.financedigest.com/what-banks-need-to-do-right-now-to-improve-their-digital-services-without-sacrificing-security.html "What Banks Need to Do Right Now to Improve Their Digital Services Without Sacrificing Security ") yourself, your approach, your energy, etc. Consult a business coach, ask your colleagues, take a personality assessment, whatever it takes to get the honest feedback you [need to make sure](https://www.financedigest.com/need-additional-funding-but-not-sure-how-to-go-about-it.html "Need additional funding but not sure how to go about it?") you’re emanating the energy you want for your organization. **#5 – Don’t** [Expect Yourself from Your Staff](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-report-reveals-risk-compliance-staff-expect-to-see-significant-benefits-from-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-distributed-ledger-technologies.html "Thomson Reuters Report Reveals Risk & Compliance Staff Expect to See Significant Benefits from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technologies") This was a tough one for me in my early professional career. I thought if I was setting the example and putting in my blood, sweat and tears, that [everyone would approach the work](https://www.financedigest.com/working-from-home-everyone-is-different.html "Working from home, everyone is different.") with the same veracity. It took me a while to realize this wasn’t the case. As a leader, it’s important to recognize that your [team members](https://www.financedigest.com/why-now-is-the-time-to-implement-a-time-saving-business-model-encouraging-team-members-to-discuss-their-challenges.html "Why now is the time to implement a time saving business model, encouraging team members to discuss their challenges") won’t have the same expectations, motivations, or commitment as you, and that’s ok. It’s ok for people to have an off switch, it [doesn’t mean](https://www.financedigest.com/making-sure-that-finservs-digital-transformation-doesnt-mean-digital-exclusion.html "Making sure that FinServ’s digital transformation doesn’t mean digital exclusion") that they don’t care about you as a leader or the company. As long as they are fulfilling their job function and working towards their goals, that’s all you can ask of them, and trying to ask any more will just end in friction and frustration. **#6 – Don’t Take Up Too Much Space** As a leader, you are always in the spotlight, and it’s [important to recognize how that affects the people](https://www.financedigest.com/high-streets-remain-an-important-factor-for-people-choosing-where-to-live-property-investors-on-alert.html "High streets remain an important factor for people choosing where to live – property investors on alert") around you. Take the Sunflower Bias for instance – which is when we are influenced by the “brightest” source (aka leader) in the room. Subordinate team members are naturally inclined to agree with what we say by virtue of our position; good [leaders recognize this, but great leaders find ways](https://www.financedigest.com/3-impactful-ways-that-leaders-can-contribute-to-the-independent-development-of-their-employees.html "3 Impactful Ways that Leaders Can Contribute to the Independent Development of Their Employees") to prevent this, and instead create space for team members to bring in their ideas so they can develop and grow. Leadership isn’t easy, but it can be the most rewarding part of your professional journey if you do the [hard work](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-pm-sunaks-office-says-the-hard-work-begins-now35794.html "UK PM Sunak’s office says ‘the hard work begins now’") to truly embrace it. **_About Author_**: _Alyssa Phillips is the [Chief Operating Officer](https://www.financedigest.com/tips-for-choosing-the-right-chief-finance-officer-for-your-business.html "Tips for Choosing the Right Chief Finance Officer for Your Business") of HCR Wealth Advisors based in Los Angeles. She joined HCR in 2018 and oversees company operations, technology, [human capital and strategic](https://www.financedigest.com/the-importance-of-strategic-human-resource-management.html "The Importance of Strategic Human Resource Management") planning._ [_https://www.hcrwealth.com/_](https://www.hcrwealth.com/) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---