3 Reasons Why Disconnected Leaders Cause Disrespected Teams ... And How to Fix it!

Hi everyone and welcome!

Have you ever thought about the impact disconnected leaders have in causing disrespected teams?

In today’s dynamic workplace, the strength of a team lies in its connection … not just among team members but also with their leaders.

Here’s the thing …

When leaders become disconnected, the ripple effect leads to disrespected, disengaged, and ultimately dysfunctional teams.

So how does this happen?

Let’s explore the three major reasons, the root causes, and what can be done to fix it.

1. Lack of Emotional Awareness and Empathy

The Problem

Disconnected leaders often struggle to recognise and respond to the emotional undercurrents of their teams.

When leaders are out of touch with how their team members feel, they miss cues about stress, frustration, or disengagement.

Over time, this creates an emotional gap, leaving team members feeling undervalued and unheard.

A leader who fails to acknowledge the effort behind a major project or disregards the challenges a team member faces during a transition, inadvertently signals that their people’s experience of situations doesn’t matter.

This lack of empathy breeds resentment and erodes trust.

Root Cause

Many leaders feel pressured to focus on results over relationships.

They may fear that acknowledging emotions might make them appear weak or distract from achieving goals.

Others simply lack the tools and skills to build emotional engagement.

Always Remember Relationship before Task!

The Fix

To rebuild connection, leaders must cultivate emotional awareness and empathy.

They need to be trained in bringing empathic listening to every interaction.

Simple actions like the ability to ask the kinds of questions that truly engage with others, listening to the answers with an intention to connect, and validating others go a long way.

Training in emotional awareness can also help leaders develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their teams.

2. Inconsistent Communication

The Problem

When communication is sporadic, unclear, or overly top-down, it leaves team members in the dark about goals, expectations, and changes.

Disconnected leaders may rely on infrequent emails, rushed check-ins, or an open-door policy that no one feels comfortable using.

This inconsistency fosters an environment where team members feel excluded and undervalued.

Over time, a lack of transparency from leadership creates space for misunderstandings, gossip, and distrust to flourish.

Root Cause

Leaders often prioritise task completion over communication, assuming their teams will automatically “get it” or adapt.

Others may shy away from open communication because it can sometimes surface uncomfortable feedback which they silently fear they may not be able to handle.

The Fix

Create regular opportunities for meaningful communication. Consistent updates on the progress of goals can bridge the gap.

Trust is the foundation of all communication.

Leaders need to strive to be transparent about challenges and changes, while also inviting team input.

The goal is not just to inform but to engage, ensuring team members feel included and aligned with the larger vision.

3. Failure to Model Respectful Behaviour

The Problem

Disconnected leaders may unintentionally display behaviours that undermine civility and respect.

Dismissing feedback, interrupting team members, or showing favouritism creates a culture where civility and respect feels optional rather than essential.

Even if a leader doesn’t overtly disrespect their team, their failure to actively model civility and respect can set the tone for negative interactions among team members.

Over time, this leads to toxic workplace dynamics where team members no longer feel safe or valued.

Root Cause

Leaders often underestimate the impact of their actions… or inaction... on team culture.

They may not realise how closely their behaviour is mirrored by their team.

The Fix

Respect starts at the top.

Leaders need to model the behaviours they wish to see.

Giving credit where it’s due, acknowledging diverse perspectives, and addressing conflicts constructively.

Providing consistent training on civility and respect in the workplace can help reinforce these principles across the organisation.

A Path Forward: Building Connected Leaders

Disconnected leadership isn’t just a leadership problem… it’s a cultural one.

The solution requires intentional effort to activate connection at every level of the organisation.

3 strategies to help leaders reconnect with their teams and create a culture of civility and respect:

1. Invest in Leadership Development - Offer training programs focused on activating emotional awareness and empathy, communication skills, and fostering inclusive cultures.
2. Prioritise Feedback Loops - Create structured opportunities for team members to give feedback and for leaders to act on it.

In my experience this is often missing and it has a BIG impact!

This demonstrates that leadership values and respects team input.

3. Celebrate Successes and Effort - Recognise and celebrate both individual and team achievements.

This creates a sense of belonging and mutual respect.

Leadership isn’t just about managing tasks …it’s about building relationships.

When leaders commit to connection, they don’t just lead their teams …they inspire them.

Start with yourself, then extend the invitation to your team.

The bottom line is...

Connection breeds respect, and respect builds success.

Are you ready to take the first step toward building a connected culture?

Stay tuned as we release our Building Your Connected Team Culture (In Person) program next week so that your leaders can discover for themselves how to implement your Connected Team Culture Roadmap!

Let’s start the conversation to create more connected cultures that inspire, respect, and empower everyone!? - I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

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For those of you who are new to my weekly newsletter 'Respectful Workplace Insights' it provides strategies for building trust, safety and a thriving inclusive, performance culture.

Thanks for reading Edition 033 of my weekly Respectful Workplace Insights newsletter.

See you next week!

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Besides my newsletter, here’s how I can help you build your connected culture where everyone works better together.

I’m looking to mentor 2-3 teams who want to start their Connected Culture journey in 2025 beginning with Igniting Awareness. ?

To find out more, schedule a free 30minute clarity call with me today ?? ?HERE

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