Being a good leader is about more than just business. It also is about understanding people on a personal level and wanting to know what engages and motivates them.
Inc. recommends avoiding the following bad leadership habits if you want to keep your team engaged.
- Taking too much control over decisions. Bad leaders micromanage, overseeing every detail of every project, which can be stifling for employees and show the boss does not trust them. This makes it hard for team members to be creative or learn something new.
- Being missing in action. When leaders are not around or do not communicate, employees may feel like their jobs are at risk. This may cause them to shut down or be apprehensive, which will affect their performance. It is important to show up physically and through open, frequent communication.
- Not listening. Many leaders do not take the time to slow down and actively listen to team members. Instead, they have one-sided conversations. This can affect a team member’s performance, as well as a leader’s effectiveness. When leaders listen to employees and act on feedback, it shows employees their leaders will take them seriously and address their concerns appropriately.
