A good leader can make a workplace much more efficient and create an environment filled with satisfied workers. Good leadership often comes down to being mindful of how you interact with your team and being aware of the environment you’re cultivating. Make sure you’re creating the ideal environment by avoiding common leadership mistakes.
Forbes’ contributor Bryan Robinson broke down five qualities of bad leadership best left avoided. We’ll break down his findings and add our own observations to help you become a leader worth following!
Wasting time
Even the best leaders can’t be expected to work 24/7. Not only can it have a negative effect on your mental health, but it shows a lack of knowing how to manage limited time and resources. Because you only have so much time in the day, it’s vital to learn how to use that time wisely.
Robinson cites Yaroslav Kologryvov, co-founder of PLATMA, who found that company founders spend or waste 70% of their time on routine tasks, taking focus away from innovation and long-term success. By getting bogged down in the details, you can lead your organization to stagnation and lose your passion for work. Most of the poor leadership qualities discussed in this article stem from poor use of time, so this is the most important behavior to be aware of.
Not knowing how to prioritize
Knowing time is limited, good leaders need to know what tasks are worth prioritizing and what tasks are best saved for later or delegated. Having too much on your plate will lead toward a lack of focus and produce mediocre results.
EducationWeek’s Brandi Chin says that having more than three big priorities is too many. Consider what three initiatives most closely align with your organization’s top priorities and focus on those. Also, make sure to avoid getting overly focused on everything new that draws your attention. Getting bogged down with every new task will steal focus from what matters.
Refusing to delegate
To help keep you focused on the tasks that matter most, you need to learn how to delegate. Leadership coach Dina Denham Smith believes that manner leaders make the mistake of choosing hubris over humility, and a refusal to delegate is a prime example of this. You have a capable team of workers looking for opportunities to grow—don’t be afraid to let them help!
Author Jayson Krause says that not only does delegation help you handle your workload but it promotes valuable skills like innovation, autonomy, and resilience in your team. These traits make your organization operate more smoothly while keeping you free to focus on your most important tasks.
“Assign tasks according to each team member’s capabilities, provide them with a sense of ownership to keep them motivated, stress their accountability and check-in regularly to ensure they’re keeping up with their new-found responsibilities.” – Yaroslav Kologryvov
Neglecting innovation
When you think of a bad boss, you likely think of immediate negative personality traits. But being a tyrant isn’t the only bad way to be a leader. The bad behaviors we’ve discussed can lead to a culture of stagnation, which can be brutal to a workplace’s future and culture. A good leader needs to embrace innovation and continually evolve.
Robinson and Kologryvov say to set time aside to experiment, create, and collaborate. Innovation isn’t just creating new inventions or massive initiatives but rather finding better ways to get things done. Be open to using new technology, new project management techniques, and listen to ideas from your team.
Micromanaging
One of the most common traits you’ll hear workers say they hate in their leadership is micromanagement. Not only does it irk workers when it feels like they aren’t trusted to do their jobs, but it also means a leader is wasting time micromanaging instead of doing things that matter. To be a better leader, learn to trust your team and their strategic outputs.
INSEAD’s Graham Ward says controlling leaders can alienate their team in their desire to control everything. A good leader needs to learn they can’t control every outcome, they can only influence them. Instead, a good leader needs to trust their team and recognize different people have different processes. Focus on the results and the growth of your team like a leader, rather than force your will on someone like a manager.
“Do you find yourself hovering over your team like a helicopter parent? Trust in leadership is essential for growth. Give your people autonomy; consequently, provide them with space to breathe and watch their confidence (and productivity) soar.” -Anton Gunn
Wrap up
In your journey to become a valuable team leader, you need to be aware of and avoid committing these leadership common blunders. By monitoring your own behavior and cutting out any offending traits, you can create a positive and productive work environment and foster growth in your organization.
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