Much is talked and written about leadership and management being so different and how leadership can be the difference between successful companies and those that fail.

I scan numerous articles every week about what makes great leadership, but I rarely see anything about poor leadership. However, sometimes it’s good to make sure we can recognize the other side of the coin.

Poor leadership shows up in numerous ways and has a huge negative impact on the business such as limiting the company’s ability to retain employees by lowering employee morale, motivation, and productivity.

Understanding the traits of poor leaders can help you avoid leadership pitfalls and by doing so recognize how to strengthen your leadership abilities. So what are 7 signs of poor leadership?

1. Threatening Behavior

Poor leaders intimidate and bully employees, often threatening them to fire them if work is not completed satisfactorily. Employees of a poor leader are frequently publicly criticized for mistakes and poor performance.

2. Never Apologizing

If you are always right, then there is no reason to apologize. When it is obvious an apology is necessary, the reaction will be to blame any negative situation on someone else, thereby alleviating any need to apologize.

3. Micro Management

Micromanagers can’t resist becoming involved in the smallest details of their employee’s jobs. Why? Because they want to prove they know best and can do a better job than their own people. It also avoids having to consider the bigger picture.

4. Lack of Discipline

Constantly changing the goals, targets, expectations and structure are clear signs of a poor leader. Constantly trying something different or being attracted by the latest “shiny object” shifts focus and attention of the company and prevents any real process to get traction.

5. Nebulous Expectations

Failing to make expectations clear can frustrate employees and hinders their ability to successfully complete a task. Poor leaders don’t tell employees when a project is due or if there is one, change it.

6. Lack of Motivation

Poor leaders have no idea how to motivate others. So in the absence of such skills they use the “carrot and stick’ technique without the carrot. They share their negative opinions about the company and are unable to consider anyone’s viewpoint but their own. They don’t respond well to complaints or suggestions.

7. Bad Communication

Poor leaders don’t value communication with their employees. Listening to others is a low priority and a poor communicator constantly interrupts while an employee is talking because they are more interested in what THEY have to say, not others.

Seen any of these? Experienced any of these? What did you do in such a situation?





Let me know if I can help, advise or coach: peter.beaumont@ConnXN.net or message me here on LinkedIn...

Peter M. Beaumont is the Founder and Principal of ConnXN Consulting. He is also the author of The Relationship Roadmap, a comprehensive guide to building relationships with strategic clients. Find out more at www.ConnXN.net