75% of workers leave their positions because of poor supervisory management, making terrible supervisors the number one reason for employee termination. Why are there so many bad leaders? There are at least two reasons.
First, many managers lack leadership skills. Management training was not provided to 58% of managers.
Second, the majority of leaders believe they are better than they actually are. The majority of employers think of themselves as considerably better than their employees are.
Here are four characteristics that can make someone a bad leader and how to avoid becoming one.
1. They do not trust others and others do not trust them.
A good leader doesn’t get in the way of his team. When leaders run the firm on a micro level, they quickly become poisonous to their staff and the organization’s objective. Micromanagement encourages groups to do one of two things: lose all motivation and initiative and wait for instructions or get upset because the boss doesn’t trust them.
Tell people what to do, not how to do it. Then trust them by dodging their path. They will surprise you with their initiative and wit.
2. They lie, sometimes unintentionally.
New managers frequently withhold information about promotions, probable layoffs, the company’s direction and mission, bonus speculation, and so on.
Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Even an offer is regarded as a promise, so don’t offer to do something if you’re not confident you’ll be able to fulfill it. What you say now really matters. Too much promise combined with insufficient supply equals poor leadership.
3. They don’t prioritize managers’ responsibilities.
A leader must focus on what is important and take action that reflects his priorities. Research paper writing service stated that many managers get into trouble with employees and lose sight of the whole picture because of it. They spend a lot of time and energy solving a problem that means almost nothing in the big scheme of business and life.
Your feelings and efforts should correspond to your priorities. Prioritize what you spend your time and energy on because you only have a limited amount to spend per day. When you focus on small, meaningless subtasks, you divert time away from the things that really matter.
4. They don’t have the humility to ask for help.
The humble mind is dynamic, whereas the arrogant way of thinking is reluctant to adjust. Asking for help or advice from subordinates or colleagues is a sign of mature leadership. A leader who does not ask is an indication of insecurity. Vulnerability demonstrates that the leader trusts his team and is willing to learn and adapt. Humility creates a command dynamic instead of a commander/subordinate dynamic.
Don’t be too arrogant, immature, or insecure to seek assistance from others. Asking for help is a show of power and ability, not of weakness and incompetence, even if it appears to be so at times.
Bottom line
These are a few of the most costly errors a leader may make. Trust your employees and they will respond to you, unleashing their potential as a team member.
Thanks Rebecca. Do you have articles elsewhere we can read? I teach High School and sometimes my kids like to read on leadership and gain a lot from others who do as well.
I like the list your provided and got me to think a bit differently – for those things that make me “ineffective.” Keep up your writing on leadership. The value it will provide you and others with you is immeasurable.
Exactly, keep up the writing. It forces you to think and makes you a better person. 😊
Gen. Satterfield should continue to encourage young writers like Rebecca. We need people to better understand and be able to apply those skills to every day life.
Thanks for your article, Ms. Carter. Well done!