Are You a Bad Leader? Spot It & Fix It Yourself

Being a bad leader is not something that happens overnight. It starts with small signs that you are doing the wrong thing. If you want to be a good leader, you need to address these issues head-on. I’ve been in first to midline leadership positions for the last 13 years, and I’ve learned a lot. While I’ve seen some pretty good leaders and leaders that have done some pretty bad things, I’ve also seen a few really awful leaders. These leaders were not only bad leaders, but they also had some pretty bad habits.

It is easy to identify bad leadership qualities. At some point in your career, you probably experienced the consequences of poor leadership qualities. Maybe you were a victim of a leader who was neglectful or unsupportive. Maybe you worked for a boss who micromanaged you to the point where you felt like your work was pointless.?

Bad leadership can be easy to spot in others but quite difficult to measure when it comes to self-analysis. In this post, we'll discuss the signs of bad leadership and how to overcome them.

If you have these 13 signs, then you are a bad leader.

1. You Have a Lack of Vision or Company Values

If you can’t articulate what your company stands for, then you likely don’t have a strong vision for it. Leaders need to be able to talk about their company in a positive way, not just in terms of the products or services it provides but also its values and how they’re aligned with those values. Without a clear vision, it’s difficult to motivate employees or set the right expectations.

A leader without a vision or who doesn't know what the company values is not going to be successful. Leaders need to have a clear understanding of where they want their company to go and what they want their team to accomplish. Without this sense of direction, teams will drift and success will be difficult to achieve.

2. You Aren’t Open to Feedback

Good leaders are always looking for ways to improve their skills. They are constantly learning and growing, which is why they are open to feedback from their employees and colleagues. If you refuse to ever learn from your mistakes, then you are definitely not someone who is destined for leadership success.

3. You Are Autocratic or Paternalistic

This type of leadership is based on the belief that employees should follow orders without question. Leaders who exhibit this type of behavior often make decisions without consulting their team or considering other viewpoints. This type of leadership is ultimately ineffective because it doesn't allow for collaboration and problem-solving.

If you are always forcing your way through and imposing your will on others, then you are not going to be successful as a leader. Leaders need to be able to build relationships with their teams in order to get things done. If everyone is afraid of you, progress will be difficult to achieve.

4. You Dismiss Employees Who Disagree with You

If people disagree with you, then they should be able to voice their opinions respectfully. If you don't believe in listening to others, then you likely won't be able to lead an effective team either.

5. You Are Impatient or Rude With Your Employees

A good leader is patient and understanding when it comes to dealing with disgruntled employees. They will never mistreat an employee simply because they're frustrated with them – that's just plain wrong! Instead, a good leader will work calmly and patiently towards resolving the issue while maintaining trust and respect between them all.

6 . You Don’t Allow Your Team To Take Ownership of Their Work

One of the keys to being successful as a leader is giving your team control over their own work situation. Leaders who allow employees no ownership over their jobs often find themselves micromanaged and overwhelmed by the amount of work they have on their plate! This isn't conducive to productivity or creativity – two key ingredients necessary for leading a successful team!

7 . You Are Unreliable Or Non-Committal When It Comes To Commitments And Deadlines

When leaders make commitments but aren't reliable about following through, it sends negative messages to their team members. They start losing faith in your ability as a leader, which can ultimately lead them to leave your organization.

8 . You Lack Accountability For Your Actions

Leaders must be held accountable for their actions at all times – whether that means taking personal responsibility when things go wrong or communicating clearly with everyone involved about what's expected moving forward. If someone doesn't know where they stand with respect to the organization's goals, they'll quickly lose motivation and interest in working here.

9.?You Fail to Produce Positive Results

If you can't produce results, then you are not going to be successful as a leader. Leaders need to be able to show their team that they are making a difference and that they are helping the company achieve its goals. If results aren't coming in, it's likely that something else is going on behind the scenes.

10.?You Are Self-Centered

If a leader is self-centered, they are not likely to be focused on the needs of their team. They may be more concerned with what they can get for themselves, rather than what can be done to benefit the team. A self-centered leader is not likely to give others credit or recognition for their work, and may even belittle them. They may also be difficult to work with, as they are not likely to listen or take other people's opinions into account.

11.?You Lack Empathy

A good leader should be able to feel empathy for their team and for the organization as a whole. They should be able to put themselves in the same shoes as the people around them and understand what they are going through. If a leader doesn't have empathy, it will be difficult for them to connect with others and build trust.

A good leader should be inspirational but not discouraging. They should show their team that they can achieve anything if they put their minds to it, but they shouldn't make it seem like everything is insurmountable. A discouraged team is not likely to make any progress, while an inspired team is more likely to take action and achieve results.

There are several indicators that a leader may be lacking in empathy. One is that the leader does not seem to understand the feelings and needs of those under them. Another is that the leader does not take into account other people's points of view or perspectives. A final indicator is that the leader does not show remorse or apology for their actions or words, even when they know they have hurt someone.

12. Inability to Make Decisions

A bad leader is often indecisive and does not have a clear vision for the future. They may also be unresponsive to input from their team, and may not have a clear understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. A bad leader can also be abusive, which can lead to a team that is distrustful and unwilling to cooperate.

13. Poor communication

A bad leader is often unable to effectively communicate with their team. They may not be able to clearly articulate their goals, or they may not listen carefully to what others are saying. This can lead to misunderstandings and frustration on the part of the team members.

Final Thoughts

The first step to fixing a problem is to recognize that there’s a problem. And the easiest way to recognize a problem is to ask yourself whether you’re a bad leader. It’s pretty easy to spot yourself as a bad leader. In fact, if you’re not sure whether you’re a good leader or a bad leader, you should probably take some time to think about it. There are lots of things that you can do to improve your leadership skills. But the most important thing you can do is to stop trying to be a leader who isn’t really a leader at all.

Though having any or all of these thirteen characteristics doesn’t mean you are destined to fail in your career, it is a sign that you need to make some changes in your management style. With some awareness of yourself – and some work, determination, and persistence – you can develop the qualities of a great leader and help your team and organization become even more successful over the long run.