The major reason managers fail is surprisingly not from a lack of competence, knowledge or experience. Countless books and research studies have told us over several decades about what good leaders do and don’t do. But there are certain behaviors that should be avoided by anyone in a management role. They consistently, no matter who the leader is, weaken their position in the eyes of their employees and lessen their ability to lead. Here are 5 behaviors you should quit now to become a better leader.
Gossiping
As a boss you should be concerned with the welfare of your staff, but you should not gossip within the office. This behavior creates a toxic work environment causing anxiety, tension and divisiveness in the employees. Also, work production goes down because people are emotionally caught up in the boss’s drama, thus wasting company time. When the boss gossips to employees, they are not only setting up an unpleasant environment, they may be setting up an illegal one. So, knock off the gossip in the office. Be the boss, not the leader of a clique.
Being judgmental
Being overly disapproving or judgmental can make every single day miserable for your staff. This behavior alienates them and, causes unexpected turnover of good talent due to the toxic work environment. Leaders that judge others harshly shouldn’t expect their employees to come to them for advice or problem-solving. Avoid this by listening intently situations before you decide how to proceed and avoid jumping to conclusions before hearing all the facts. Do this and your workers will slowly gravitate toward you as you make it safe for them to do so.
Poor communication
So many problems in an organization are the result of lack of communication. Good leaders know how to speak to employees and clear up any sort of problems that might exist within the office. Make it a priority to have open communication regardless of position. Reiterate this need at weekly meetings, and stress the importance of timely replies. Part of any time management process should include time allocated throughout the day just to answer emails.
Leading from your ego
Leaders that are operate from hubris are only thinking of themselves and they typically don’t care about the things that matter to their subordinates. When you get caught up in your egos it erodes your effectiveness, because the combination of false pride and self-doubt created by an overactive ego gives you a distorted image of you own importance. Great leaders don’t believe they are above anyone or anything, they openly address their mistakes so that everyone can learn from them. Set the tone of humility and strength through example that everyone else will follow.
Failing to praising employees
Don’t underestimate the power that comes from recognizing employees, especially your high performers. This results in a decrease of engagement from your greatest resource, your people. Recognizing employees is shown to increase their individual productivity. People who receive regular recognition and praise are more likely to stay with their organization. The right praise at the right time may be crucial for retaining great employees and maintaining a positive work environment. As a leader, it’s really important to make sure that employees are getting the respect that they deserve. Make sure to give out credit when it’s due.
Leadership is a major factor influencing your work forces ability to perform well. Poor leadership can lead to poor performance across the board. Respect your employees, learn from them and help them get what they want and they will work hard for you. Be the boss that is leading the pack and making everyone around them better on a daily basis.
