Negative leadership habits Part 1

Habits start with a single cord when twisted, and repeated that strand of cord becomes a cable. 

Habits are powerful. And winners know that if they cultivate winning habits they continue to win and achieve greater heights. And when you look at people who do not seem to be achieving progress in life, love or careers they most often times embrace habits that are not healthy and they can be destructive as well.

Leaders have habits too. And while most of the head honchos of my corporate clients manifest, they carry very healthy, admirable and excellent habits that have propelled them to their current positions of leadership and have brought their business organizations to the top of their industry.

But there are still leaders or lesser ranks in their organizations who still hold on to unhealthy leadership habits that pose as impediments towards their organization’s success and have actually debilitate themselves from having a better future in their career as well as their personal life.

Let us take a look at some unhealthy leadership habits and perhaps in identifying any one of them being aware of these while rectifying them can contribute to preventing a destructive, unhappy or adversarial workplace.

Leadership flaws can easily be corrected with a slight tweak in behavior.

1. Talk too much listen too little.

This sends often times unconsciously a message saying: “You are not important to me…” “you’re wasting my valuable time…” This happens because leaders presume they already know what the person is going to say.

Listen more, talk less.

2. Trash talk and rude words.

Sometimes leaders use auto-pilot expressions: cussing and cursing as an outlet for their frustrations. Others are quick in making critical or sarcastic comments that hurt people while leaders think they are being cute and witty.

Show sensitivity and empathy.

3. Temper tantrums

Every time the leader loses his or her temper the immediate impression is that the leader is losing control. Reputation as being volatile and unpredictable becomes the reputation and causes tension throughout the workplace that kills creativity and productivity.

Chill! And apologize.

4. Glass half empty view.

When an idea is presented, these kinds of leaders immediately respond with: “I don’t think it will work…” This kind of negativity is actually a disguise for an attitude that says, “I know better.”

Consider the idea and study the merits first.

5. Grab credit and suck up.

This is one of the most destructive leadership behaviors that have caused good people to leave their organizations. People work, and the leader grabs the credit. This is an expression of “sucking up” to the boss and the tendency of those who love to “suck up” is that they tend to “kick down” on others.

Recognize and give credit to those who contribute and work on merits not on politics.

6. Power play.

These kinds of leaders always view the workplace as a battleground. They withhold information so they have weapons to use at the proper time that would advance their interest and positions. They play politics all the time.

Name drop their bosses’ names and other dignitaries and causes factions and divisiveness within the organization.

Serve do not dominate and rule.

7. Withhold recognition.

Insecure leaders would not want to show appreciation and would never recognize their people’s accomplishments. They tend to think that people are expected to perform anyway and they are being paid for the services they render. This kind of leader drives away good people as they feel that they are not appreciated in the first place.

Compliment and appreciate them.

There is just no more room, time nor space for leaders to be exhibiting these unhealthy habits that undermine people and slow down progress. Leaders have to be trained. Just like any other skills in life, leadership skills have to be updated and upgraded and subjected to serious training.

I will continue tomorrow and present some more unhealthy leadership skills meanwhile, it would be good to withhold judgment and conduct an honest evaluation of your own situation before you clip this page and then start sending out to people you do not like.

Before we start pointing fingers we need to first ascertain that we have clean hands.

(Experience two inspiring days with Francis Kong learning leadership skills in this year’s first run of Level Up Leadership March 15-16 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries contact April at +63928 559 1798)