Assess Your Own Performance as a Leader (HBR Article Collection)

When top executives stumble, they risk taking their companies down with them. How can you stay steady on your feet, so you keep delivering high-quality leadership? Feedback. But getting feedback on your own performance isn't easy. The higher you climb on the corporate ladder, the harder it is to get candid input from colleagues uneasy about criticizing a peer. Few direct reports feel safe telling the boss uncomfortable truths about his performance. And members of the board often focus exclusively on executives' ability to deliver financial results; directors may ignore additional essential skills of leadership, such as strategy execution and talent management. For all these reasons, you'll have to proactively generate the information you need to spot and address weak areas. For example, set up a formal process for board members to evaluate you on all the skills crucial to exceptional leadership. And learn how to identify problematic behaviors in yourself--so you can take action immediately. Take charge in these ways, and you tackle your weaknesses before they can tackle you.