Have you been assigned as a team leader? Then, it is a must for you to know these 10 bad team leader traits so that you can avoid them. Most of these traits, or at least one or two of them, can be present in even the most highly competent leaders. It is human nature, after all, to be imperfect and to sabotage our own success. If you are aware of these personality traits that can make you a horrible leader, you can control them and steer your team in the right direction.
1. Micromanaging
Most people are chosen as leaders because they are individually successful. However, individual success is not a quick ticket to team success, especially if this means that the leader is a control freak. Micromanaging is one of the worst toxic leadership traits. Among the bad team leader traits, this is the one that can ruin your relationship with your team members. Seizing full control all the time can make your team members feel like they are just tools you wish to use for your own benefit. It strips them of the ability to decide for themselves and for the team, and when this happens, they can feel inept and insulted. It shows a lack of trust on the part of the leader towards the very team he formed for the job. Remember, as a leader, you are not expected to do everything. A leader facilitates, listens, guides, and trusts his team. He cannot be a dictator.
2. Being an Attention Seeker
If there were troublesome twins out to get leaders and their ability to drive a team towards success, it would be pride and vainglory. If you think that you are better than everyone else, you won’t be open to potentially great ideas that could drive your team in the right direction. At the same time, if you are always after public attention and recognition, you are bound to make decisions that will highlight you as the “hero” while discrediting the entire team’s efforts. Both have very self-centered qualities that denote bad leadership. Among bad team leader traits, these two will surely get you hated by your teammates and outsiders who can see through your selfish decisions.
3. Lack of Accountability
Another monster among bad team leader traits is the utter lack of accountability. By being a team leader, you must understand that you are now accountable for the actions of your members. If one of them does something wrong, the ship sinks. Having said that, you cannot save yourself while the rest of your team sinks with the ship. You are the leader and must be prepared to take the blame. If you are not brave enough, your team members may feel neglected, and they won’t be able to trust you anymore.
4. Being a Bad Follower
The best leaders are actually also good followers. This is because a good leader does not always take the lead or develop the best ideas. His role is to encourage his team members to brainstorm and formulate ideas. This way, everything feels more like a team effort than a one-person show. Also, remembering how it was to be a follower allows the leader to empathize with his team members. One would know, from experience, how to provide the best support so that your team can grow and work together. They are able to motivate them simply by being an inspiring example.
5. Not Being Realistic&
One way to demotivate your team is to set very high, unrealistic expectations of their output. For example, expecting them to finish work at a very short turnaround time would make it necessary for them to lose sleep for days. If you are too demanding as a leader, your team is bound to fail. It’s a very toxic leadership trait that must be avoided. Always remember that your team members are human beings, too, who have lives and other responsibilities outside of work. Once you eliminate this and other bad team leader traits, you will have a healthier relationship with your team.
6. Credit Grabbing
Good leadership can help brands grow, and people thrive. However, remember to give credit where credit is due. Among bad team leader traits, credit grabbing is probably one of the most common and the hardest to eliminate. Perhaps the corporate world has just designed people to bite each other’s heads off. Everyone is getting so competitive these days, proving they are a cut above the rest. However, if you care for your team’s growth, you must avoid credit grabbing at all costs. Even if it’s very tempting to steal a smaller team member’s idea so you can look good, don’t do it. Acknowledge the hard work and brilliant ideas of your team. The results will be long-term, and you can build rapport and trust among your team members.
7. Forgetting to Take (and Give) Breaks
Work is important, but you need to understand as a team leader that your team members also need breaks. You cannot call them on a Sunday or when you know they have filed for vacation leave. These are unpaid hours, and you need to respect their personal space. Calling them during the work week off the clock is just bad. While having a hardworking boss is admirable, there is such a thing as burnout. You do not want your best members to feel so burnt out they are filing for resignation the next day. The keyword here is balance. No matter how passionate you are about your project, give your team room for rest and recovery. A well-rested team is a more productive team.
8. Not Minding Your Tone
Among bad team leader traits, having bad communication skills can certainly break a team. You cannot whip your way through your team and expect good results unless you are in the military. You need to watch your tone. The moment any of your team members feel like they are being talked down to, you have lost control. The key is to clearly communicate what needs to be done in a tone that would motivate them, not upset them. Demoralizing any of your team members is counter-productive. You need to understand that.
9. Being an Unethical&n
Even in this day and age, an unethical leader is a bad leader. You are expected to have a fairly sound moral compass when leading a team. This means that you won’t drive your team members to do something unfair for the sake of winning. It is also expected that you would be a fair leader and never try to abuse your power, especially among your team members. You need to be “benevolent” in every way. An unethical leader demoralizes team members, and the team crumbles when your members are no longer feeling good about themselves and their work. Always remember that as the team lead, you are the one who sets the mood. Make your leadership a safe space for your team members.
10. Unwillingness to Learn and Grow
Thinking that you are already perfect and should not change is a bad sign if you are a leader. It is one of the most toxic signs of leadership and could leave your team members thinking that their feedback is unnecessary. You are also hindering the growth of your entire team if you do not recognize your own faults and are unwilling to work on them.
Can One Avoid Bad Team Leader Traits?&
Congratulations if you don’t have any of the bad team leader traits mentioned above. You may be well on your road toward great leadership, or perhaps you have already realized these traits earlier on and are working on them. If you find yourself guilty of most of them, do not fret. The first step is to recognize that you’ve made a mistake. The next step is to try to correct them. You will be a better leader and a better person in general if you improve in these areas.