Four Signs Your Leadership Needs Attention - Now

WE HAVE all worked for them at some point.

You know the sort of leader I am talking about: they treat others poorly and are only interested in their own well-being.

Unfortunately, their lack of leadership skills can make life unbearable for their employees – while they themselves remain blissfully unaware of their shortcomings.

Such leaders place little or no value on feedback from their employees and therefore, hardly ever ask for it.

And this usually means they find it difficult to even recognise the fact they are incapable.

In a recent Inc.com article, leadership expert John Eades outlines some of the best ways for leaders to avoid falling into this trap, and how to recognise the warning signs:

1. Stop micromanaging

Many leaders are so out of touch with their abilities, they think they are the only ones who can do a job properly. They are constantly micromanaging, changing and redoing the work of others. Sometimes this can get so out of hand their employees give up running their work past them, and lose the urge to contribute. This flies in the face of what a good leader should be doing - which is encouraging creativity and allowing staff the freedom to flourish and grow through careful coaching - not constant interfering

2. You are losing your best staff

No matter how much employees may enjoy their work - a bad boss is usually a major indicator of how long they stay with an organisation. A recent Gallup study showed 75 per cent of employees who voluntarily left their jobs did so because of their bosses. And it doesn’t matter how smart and talented you are. The ‘bad boss’ scenario often overwhelms the other more positive aspects of the job: creating a toxic atmosphere and hastening an employee’s decision to leave. The answer for any leader in this situation is to listen closely to their employees, recognise when this is happening, and correct it

3. You dislike your job

As a leader, if you dislike your job it is usually pretty obvious to everyone else you work with. This job dissatisfaction can happen for many reasons. In some cases, the weight of responsibility can place such a burden on a leader it creates a simmering resentment, leading to miscommunication and misunderstandings. Such scenarios are not uncommon, and often occur when people are appointed to leadership positions without the correct training or experience. In such cases, leaders should take the time to consider if their current position is right for them and act accordingly

4. You are risk averse

Many leaders are loathe to change and wary of any sort of risk taking. This is no longer an option in today’s business world. Successful leaders these days have to be willing to take risks on a calculated basis – as well as trusting their instincts when making difficult decisions. Stepping out of their comfort zone is an inherent part of being an effective leader and, when they do, they soon discover the benefits.

In a recent Lifehack article, leadership expert Lewis Humphries explains how attracting and engaging talent is also a hugely important part of being a good leader.

Humphries outlines how in business, top talent is crucial to breaking new ground and achieving long-term success.

However, this can only be achieved when the leadership group is strong and effective.

So, to find the right blend of talent, leaders need to be visionary, and able to prioritise clearly defined, long-term goals that can be achieved through a series of well-managed steps.

And when all of these factors are brought together - the organisation will go from strength to strength.