Negative leadership habits Part 2

It has been said that there are six phases to a project:

1. Enthusiasm 2. Disillusionment 3. Panic 4. Search for the guilty 5. Punishment of the innocent 6. Praise and honor for the non-participants

If this is the case in your organization then you can be sure of two things:

1. You have a lousy culture in your organization.

2. And that is because you have lousy leaders and bosses who have created that culture in your organization.

Many leaders have unhealthy leadership habits and when they do, they cause people unnecessary stress and stifle their productivity.

One wise guy says: “My boss told me to have a good day. So I went home to be as far away from him as possible.” Some of us have “bad hair days” once in a while. But many people in the workplace have “bad boss day” almost every day of their lives.

I have to emphasize and re-emphasize to the many participants that would enroll in my Level Up Leadership that majority of the people do not leave their jobs, they simply leave their bad bosses.

Today is part two of our material entitled: “Negative Leadership Habits” where we left off yesterday. I hope you find this material helpful in your own leadership journey. So here are the rest of the negative leadership habits:

8. BRAGGING AND EGO TRIP

Good leaders are humble and they always pass on the credit to their team. The not-so-good leaders cannot resist telling his or her people just how smart they are. They love to use the phrase… “I know… I know…” So the way to deal with this habit is to hold your words and think first: “Is what I am about to say worth saying?” And if the conclusion is no, then just smile and say, “Thank you.” That will always be a winner.

9. FULL OF EXCUSES

“Traffic is horrible.” This is an excuse because you and I who are born in the country I love know this as a fact of life and is no longer acceptable as a reason. Or “I was in a client meeting.” May be true but is this the case all the time when the leader cannot be reached constantly? Leaders need to first evaluate why such reasons are always being given. And when it is, then credibility in leadership diminishes.

One prescription I would like to provide is so simple and potent and self-corrective. JUST BE HONEST.

10. TRAPPED IN THE PAST

There are leaders who would go endlessly with tales and stories of the “Good Old Days” and how the “Situation was better…” ad infinitum ad nauseam…

Solution? Live in the present and focus on the future.

 11. UNGRATEFUL

Most people do not demand much but they sure appreciate being appreciated. Gratitude is a skill that should always be developed. Saying “Thank You” is an exercise a good leader should not tire of practicing.

12. FAVORITISM

There are so many things leaders do that are simply dumb and unnecessary. For example, office romance or paying too much attention on one individual simply because he or she comes from the same province or were once school mates or frat buddies. Yes-men and yes-women always get special graces from the boss but this is not healthy. It kills motivation and drives away initiative of others to deliver their best as they have already pre-judge that future promotions and opportunities will never go their way but will be handed to the boss’ favorites.

One word to deal with this: “Meritocracy.”

13. OBSESSED WITH WINNING

There are targets to achieve. I know that. There are goals that should be met. I understand that. But leaders are to be coaches and mentors that would provide the inspiration and the guidance to get his or her team to meet the goals. Sometimes obsessive leaders are too consumed with the need to win even when winning does not matter. It is a root cause that leads to workplace conflicts, ceaseless arguments, credit-grabbing, etc.

How do you deal with this? Concentrate on things that really matter. Think long term.

 I am just heating up but the space is not enough. In my many years of my own business leadership experience and the issues I hear from my corporate clients, now that I am doing a lot more speaking and training, here is the one effective piece of advice I would like to present. And it sounds so self-serving but I can assure you it is not.

Just ask the thousands of those who have experienced it; and that is the fact that leaders need to be trained and potential leaders should be sent to leadership trainings.

Their people skills need to be developed, updated and upgraded. Two days of column space is insufficient and two days of leadership training would not be able to cover all but at least more could be discussed and addressed.

John F. Kennedy said: “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” I agree. And let me add something to this: “Leadership and leadership training are indispensable to each other as well.”

(Bring your leaders to the Shangri-La Hotel Makati and experience two inspiring days of leadership training with Francis Kong in his highly acclaimed and updated Level Up Leadership this March 15-16. For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928 559 1798)