Ten things your team hates about you
Most of us intend to be good leaders, but certain actions can inadvertently drive a wedge between you and your team.
Here are ten behaviours to steer clear of, along with a closer look at their unintended consequences.
1. You Micromanage
What you think you're doing: Ensuring every detail is perfect for the team's success.
What you're really doing: Undermining trust and stifling your team's creativity and growth.
2. You Ignore Ideas and Input
What you think you're doing: Staying focused on the big picture and maintaining efficiency.
What you're really doing: Alienating your team, missing good contributions, stifling innovation and hindering collaboration.
3. You Play Favourites
What you think you're doing: Recognising and nurturing your strongest relationships within the team.
What you're really doing: Creating division, jealousy, and a sense of unfair treatment among team members.
4. You Fail to Communicate
What you think you're doing: Preventing information overload and allowing your team to work without unnecessary distractions.
What you're really doing: Breeding confusion, sowing discord, and hampering overall team progress.
5. You’re Taking Credit and Avoiding Blame
What you think you're doing: Protecting your reputation and asserting your authority.
What you're really doing: Diminishing trust, damaging your credibility, and demoralising your team members.
6. You’re Overlooking Growth Opportunities
What you think you’re doing: Preventing overburdening your team with additional tasks.
What you’re really doing: Blocking career trajectories, limiting skill enhancement, and killing ambition within the team.
7. You Underestimate the Power of Recognition
What you think you're doing: Focusing on the tasks at hand rather than indulging in excessive praise.
What you're really doing: Diminishing motivation, decreasing morale, and neglecting a fundamental aspect of team encouragement.
8. You Withhold Constructive Feedback
What you think you’re doing: Avoiding demotivation or hurting team members’ feelings.
What you’re really doing: Stunting professional development, hindering improvement, and perpetuating a stagnant work environment.
9. You Lack Empathy
What you think you're doing: Staying objective and unbiased in your decision-making.
What you're really doing: Creating an emotionally distant atmosphere, causing feelings of disconnection, and hindering genuine collaboration.
10. You Say Yes to Every Stakeholder
What you think you're doing: Role modelling hard work and good service, and ensuring your team is dedicated and committed to their tasks.
What you’re really doing: Treating people (and yourself) like machines, stifling creativity, and fuelling burnout that ultimately hurts humans and hampers productivity.
A successful leader fosters collaboration, trust, and open communication, and role models healthy, constructive work practices. Don’t be a hater-maker. By avoiding these pitfalls, you'll be on the path to becoming a respected and effective leader who truly empowers their team.
Until next week,
Take care of yourself and others,
Madeleine
PS If you’d like me to work with you as you develop an authentic leadership style that helps you and your team excel at delivering all the things, let me know and please share with anyone you think may benefit.
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