If you talk to any person on the street, chances are they will most likely have a story to tell about a boss with bad leadership skills who continuously made the same mistakes. Being a leader isn’t just about the title you hold or the number of employees you have under your command. It’s much more than that. It’s also about providing value to your team and understanding when you make mistakes. The following list includes some of the worst leadership mistakes you can make and how to avoid them.
Losing Trust
It’s safe to say that if you don’t have a strong foundation of trust, you have nothing. People will only follow those who they know are going to be there for them. For this reason, when promises are made, make a serious effort to keep those promises. Failure to do so may lead to an office that listens to you but doesn’t necessarily follow. It can also affect the overall employee morale. It can be difficult to regain the trust of your team after losing it, and even then, it might never be the same. Before promising anything, make sure you are ready to live by your words.
Not Following The Golden Rule
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, respect is one of the most important things a person needs in order to feel fulfilled in life. Therefore, when you come into the office constantly talking down to staff members in front of their peers, poor performance isn’t far behind. Whenever negative performance or behavior issues arise, it is best to address those issues in private. Not only will the matter be handled more efficiently, but your employees will respect you for bringing it to their attention in private.
Taking the Glory
There’s a reason why so many of today’s great leaders don’t actually talk too much about their business performance. That is because they understand that it was a team effort that helped achieve their goal, not the work of one person. When you take the glory of your team, you are essentially invalidating their contribution. This can instantly lead to negative feelings towards you, and they will be less inclined to put in the same amount of work during your next big project.
