10 Warning Signs That Leadership Weakness Is Hurting Your Team

Subscribe to Ultra Influential on Substack and listen to the Ultra Influential Newsletter. Receive fresh perspectives, cutting edge insights, and actionable wisdom to help you elevate performance and maximize potential.

Leadership isn’t about being perfect - at its simplest leadership is about guiding, leading, inspiring people to achieve results. But let’s face it: even the best leaders will miss the mark at some point during their career. When that happens, morale sinks, productivity stalls, and good employees quietly check out.

Here’s the truth: low morale isn’t always a reflection of your team—it’s often a reflection of your leadership.

So how do you know if your leadership is helping or hurting? Here are 10 undeniable warning signs that leadership weaknesses are impacting your team—and what you can do about it.

1. A Culture of Silence

What It Looks Like: Employees stop speaking up in meetings, offering ideas, or sharing concerns.

Why It Matters: Silence isn’t compliance; it’s disengagement. When your team feels unheard or unsafe, creativity and collaboration die. In fact, teams with high psychological safety are 76% more engaged and 50% more productive than those without it. (Harvard Business Review)

Fix It: Create psychological safety by encouraging open dialogue and rewarding honest feedback.

2. Increased Turnover

What It Looks Like: Talented employees are leaving faster than you can replace them.

Why It Matters: Poor leadership accounts for 50% of voluntary turnover, and replacing a single employee can cost up to twice their annual salary. (Gallup)

Fix It: Conduct exit interviews and ask the hard question: “What could leadership have done differently to keep you here?”

3. Low Energy and Enthusiasm

What It Looks Like: Your once-motivated team now drags their feet through the workday.

Why It Matters: Disengaged employees cost organizations $7.8 trillion annually in lost productivity. (Gallup, 2023)

Fix It: Infuse purpose into the work by tying everyday tasks to the bigger mission. Recognize and celebrate wins—big and small.

4. Passive-Aggressive Behavior

What It Looks Like: Missed deadlines, sarcastic comments, or resistance to new initiatives.

Why It Matters: This behavior often stems from unresolved tension or feeling undervalued. Toxic workplaces—often fueled by poor leadership—are the #1 reason employees leave jobs, even above pay. (MIT Sloan Management Review, 2022)

Fix It: Address conflicts head-on. Show your team that you see them, hear them, and value them and their contributions.

5. An ‘Us vs. Them’ Mentality

What It Looks Like: Your team feels alienated from leadership, with a growing divide between “management” and “everyone else.”

Why It Matters: When trust erodes, so does engagement. Only 21% of employees globally are engaged at work. (Gallup)

Fix It: Bridge the gap by being visible, approachable, and transparent.

6. Micromanagement

What It Looks Like: Leaders are constantly hovering, second-guessing, or redoing work.

Why It Matters: Micromanagement signals a lack of trust, which erodes morale and stifles creativity. Employees who feel trusted and empowered are 4.6 times more likely to be engaged. (Gallup)

Fix It: Shift your focus from managing tasks to mentoring people. Trust your team to do their jobs.

7. Widespread Apathy

What It Looks Like: Employees do the bare minimum and have “checked out” mentally.

Why It Matters: Apathy spreads like wildfire. Disengagement is contagious and can lead to 59% higher turnover rates. (Gallup)

Fix It: Reignite passion by connecting with employees on a human level. Ask what they need—and listen.

8. Poor Communication

What It Looks Like: Mixed messages, lack of direction, or last-minute changes.

Why It Matters: Poor communication costs companies an average of $12,506 per employee annually. (SHRM)

Fix It: Develop a clear communication plan. Ensure it is simple, consistent, relevant, and transparent.

9. Lack of Recognition

What It Looks Like: Hard work goes unnoticed, and employees feel unappreciated.

Why It Matters: 69% of employees say they’d work harder if their efforts were better recognized, and recognition is directly tied to engagement. (Workhuman)

Fix It: Make recognition part of your leadership DNA. Celebrate successes of individuals and teams regularly and publicly.

10. A Decline in Innovation

What It Looks Like: The team is stuck in “business as usual” mode with no fresh ideas or bold initiatives.

Why It Matters: Companies with effective leadership are 13 times more likely to outperform competitors in innovation. (McKinsey)

Fix It: Foster a culture of curiosity. Reward creative thinking, even when ideas aren't implemented.

Final Thoughts: Great Leaders Fix Their Blind Spots

Every leader has weaknesses, but great leaders have the courage to face them head-on.

Remember: Leadership is a mirror. What you see in your team often reflects what’s happening at the top. When you address these weaknesses, you don’t just improve morale—you unlock your team’s full potential.

Call to Action: What’s one warning sign you’ve noticed in your leadership or workplace? How did you address it? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!

Like What You Read? Share the Ultra Influential Newsletter with your community.