Episode 42 Shaping Leader: 7 Ways Leaders Can Lose with Joshua K. McMillion
7 Ways Leaders Losing at the Shaping Phase of Leadership
Featuring Joshua K. McMillion | Tales of Leadership Podcast Ep. 42
The fifth phase of leadership—shaping leaders—is where your legacy begins to take form. It’s no longer about what you accomplish individually, but about the leaders you build who will carry the mission forward. The true test of leadership is not what happens when you are there, but what happens when you are not there.
As leaders begin to win consistently, there must be a shift. The focus must move from producing results to multiplying impact through others. When done correctly, leadership compounds—one leader investing in another creates exponential growth across the organization. But when done incorrectly, leaders plateau, stall momentum, and ultimately fail to reach their full potential.
Transitional Thinking
Everything starts with how you think. Leaders who lose at this phase are trapped in transitional thinking—focused on outcomes instead of the process. They remain at the tactical level, making decisions in the trenches, instead of stepping back to operate from an aerial perspective.
This creates a dangerous cycle. Results may come temporarily, but momentum fades because the team lacks ownership and commitment. You will never achieve your full potential until you help others achieve theirs first.
Transitional leaders often fall into predictable habits: controlling everything, separating themselves from the team, hiding behind a false image, or operating from fear. These habits erode trust and prevent innovation. Over time, the organization mirrors the leader—and stagnation sets in.
Driven by Weaknesses
Leaders who focus on their weaknesses create teams that do the same. Instead of building confidence, they build hesitation.
The reality is simple: growth happens when strengths are sharpened, not when weaknesses are overemphasized. The Pareto Principle reinforces this—20% of your strengths drive 80% of your results.
Master your strengths and help others master theirs.
When leaders focus on what their team does well, they unlock momentum. When they fixate on weaknesses, they create doubt and limit potential.
Lacking Leadership Intelligence
As leaders grow, their responsibilities change—and so must their thinking.
There are three levels of leadership intelligence: tactical, operational, and strategic. At the fifth phase, leaders must operate primarily at the operational and strategic levels.
Tactical leaders do the work. Operational leaders guide the work. Strategic leaders define where the work is going.
If you remain in the trenches, who is charting the course?
Great leaders understand when to step in and when to step back. They empower their team while remaining ready to act when only they can solve the problem.
Short-Sighted Thinking
Leaders who lose at this phase are reactive. They focus on the problem in front of them and fail to anticipate what’s coming next.
This creates a cycle of constant firefighting. Small issues grow into major problems because they were never addressed early.
If you are always reacting, you are never leading.
Purposeful leaders cast vision. They look beyond the next terrain feature and prepare their team for what lies ahead. They remain offensive, not defensive.
Time Mismanagement
Time is a leader’s most valuable resource—and the easiest to lose control of.
Emails, meetings, and constant distractions can consume your day if you allow them. Leaders who lose at this phase fail to invest time in developing others.
The most important job of a leader is spending quality time with their team.
Not surface-level interaction. Not rushed conversations. Deliberate, purposeful investment.
If you don’t prioritize mentorship and coaching, no one else will. And your organization will reflect that.
Self-Sabotage
Every leader faces internal battles—fear, doubt, ego, and insecurity. Left unchecked, these behaviors can cripple an organization.
Self-sabotage shows up in subtle ways: hesitation, overthinking, controlling behavior, or avoiding difficult decisions.
Inaction is often more dangerous than failure.
There is never a perfect plan. Waiting for one only guarantees missed opportunities. As General Patton said, a good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan executed later.
Confidence is not about having all the answers. It’s about trusting yourself to act, learn, and adjust.
Inconsistency
Consistency is the foundation of leadership. Without it, nothing else matters.
Leaders who lack consistency create confusion, erode trust, and stall progress. Teams don’t know what to expect, and momentum disappears.
Routine action leads to extraordinary results.
Consistency compounds over time. Small, disciplined actions build trust, strengthen culture, and create an unfair advantage.
Leaders must embody the behaviors they expect from their team—every single day.
Final Thoughts
The fifth phase of leadership is where leaders either multiply their impact—or limit it. It requires discipline, intentionality, and a commitment to developing others. If you want to build a lasting legacy, focus less on what you achieve and more on who you develop.
After Action Review (AAR)
What transitional habits are currently limiting your ability to develop others?
Are you spending intentional, quality time investing in your team—or just managing tasks?
How are you creating consistency in your leadership to build trust and momentum?
Tales of Leadership Mission: To develop Purposeful Accountable Leaders (PAL) by arming you with the tools
required to lead with purpose, integrity, and accountability.
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