Posted on Jul 20, 2015
Have you run into the (7) Signs of Weak Leadership?
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Have you run into the (7) Signs of Weak Leadership?
By Aleksandr Noudelman
Experienced Educator & Fitness Coach
It’s vital to understand that just because someone is in a leadership position, doesn’t necessarily mean they are meant to be in it. Put another way, not all leaders are born leaders. The problem many organizations are suffering from is a recognition problem – they can’t seem to distinguish the good leaders from bad ones.
Here are a few key behaviors that beset a weak leader:
1. Their team routinely suffers from burnout
Being driven and ambitious are important traits for successful leaders. However, if you are excessively working your people or churning through staff than you aren’t effectively using your resources. You may take pride in your productivity, in doing more with less. However, today’s success may undermine long-term health. Crisis management can become a way of life that reduces morale and drives away or diminishes the effectiveness of dedicated people. With any business, there are times when you have to burn the midnight oil but it should be accompanied with time for your team to recharge and refuel.
2. They lack emotional intelligence
Leaders who are weak are always envious of other peoples' successes and are happy when other people fail. They see themselves in fundamental competition with other executives and even with their subordinates. Such envy is a root cause of the turf wars, backbiting, and dirty politics that can make any workplace an unhealthy one.
3. They don’t provide adequate direction
Failing to provide adequate direction can frustrate employees and will hinder their chances at completing tasks correctly and success. Poor leaders might not tell employees when a project is due or might suddenly move the deadline up without regards for the employee who's doing it. Project details can also be vague, making it difficult for staff to guess what factors the leader considers important. If a project involves participation from more than one employee, a poor leader may choose not explain who is responsible for what part. Good leaders provide adequate direction and are always there to provide descriptive feedback when it is needed.
4. They find blame in everyone but themselves
Weak leaders blame everyone else for their mistakes and for any mishaps that happen to them and their division/company. Every time they suffer a defeat or a setback, a subordinate is given the talk down, or worse, an axe. Great leaders don't do this and they always stay positive no matter what the circumstances are. They are accountable for the results and accept full responsibility for the outcomes.
5. They don’t provide honest feedback
It is very difficult for weak leaders to give the honest messages or constructive feedback to their subordinates. When they have to say something negative to someone, it's always someone else, usually a superior, who has told them to do. By that time it is to late and the leader hasn't really identified the problem before it reached the climax. They also make it a point to let the individual know that it's not their idea. Good leaders speak from the heart and provide honest feedback that is backed up by facts. They never wait for superiors to identify problems for them.
6. They're Blind To Current Situation
Because weak leaders are egocentric and believe that their way is the only way, their followers are afraid to suggest anything new. Those who follow such leaders only give them praise or the good news. Such appreciation only gives a boost to their status and ego and the leader is left clueless as to what the current situation is as well as the changing trends in the marketplace.
7. They're Self-Serving
If a leader doesn't understand the concept of “service above self” they will not retain the trust, confidence, and loyalty of their subordinates. Any leader is only as good as their team’s hope to be led by them. Too much ego, pride, and arrogance are not signs of good leadership. Long story short; if a leader receives a vote of non-confidence from their subordinates…the leader is a weak one.
Have you run into the (7) Signs of Weak Leadership?
By Aleksandr Noudelman
Experienced Educator & Fitness Coach
It’s vital to understand that just because someone is in a leadership position, doesn’t necessarily mean they are meant to be in it. Put another way, not all leaders are born leaders. The problem many organizations are suffering from is a recognition problem – they can’t seem to distinguish the good leaders from bad ones.
Here are a few key behaviors that beset a weak leader:
1. Their team routinely suffers from burnout
Being driven and ambitious are important traits for successful leaders. However, if you are excessively working your people or churning through staff than you aren’t effectively using your resources. You may take pride in your productivity, in doing more with less. However, today’s success may undermine long-term health. Crisis management can become a way of life that reduces morale and drives away or diminishes the effectiveness of dedicated people. With any business, there are times when you have to burn the midnight oil but it should be accompanied with time for your team to recharge and refuel.
2. They lack emotional intelligence
Leaders who are weak are always envious of other peoples' successes and are happy when other people fail. They see themselves in fundamental competition with other executives and even with their subordinates. Such envy is a root cause of the turf wars, backbiting, and dirty politics that can make any workplace an unhealthy one.
3. They don’t provide adequate direction
Failing to provide adequate direction can frustrate employees and will hinder their chances at completing tasks correctly and success. Poor leaders might not tell employees when a project is due or might suddenly move the deadline up without regards for the employee who's doing it. Project details can also be vague, making it difficult for staff to guess what factors the leader considers important. If a project involves participation from more than one employee, a poor leader may choose not explain who is responsible for what part. Good leaders provide adequate direction and are always there to provide descriptive feedback when it is needed.
4. They find blame in everyone but themselves
Weak leaders blame everyone else for their mistakes and for any mishaps that happen to them and their division/company. Every time they suffer a defeat or a setback, a subordinate is given the talk down, or worse, an axe. Great leaders don't do this and they always stay positive no matter what the circumstances are. They are accountable for the results and accept full responsibility for the outcomes.
5. They don’t provide honest feedback
It is very difficult for weak leaders to give the honest messages or constructive feedback to their subordinates. When they have to say something negative to someone, it's always someone else, usually a superior, who has told them to do. By that time it is to late and the leader hasn't really identified the problem before it reached the climax. They also make it a point to let the individual know that it's not their idea. Good leaders speak from the heart and provide honest feedback that is backed up by facts. They never wait for superiors to identify problems for them.
6. They're Blind To Current Situation
Because weak leaders are egocentric and believe that their way is the only way, their followers are afraid to suggest anything new. Those who follow such leaders only give them praise or the good news. Such appreciation only gives a boost to their status and ego and the leader is left clueless as to what the current situation is as well as the changing trends in the marketplace.
7. They're Self-Serving
If a leader doesn't understand the concept of “service above self” they will not retain the trust, confidence, and loyalty of their subordinates. Any leader is only as good as their team’s hope to be led by them. Too much ego, pride, and arrogance are not signs of good leadership. Long story short; if a leader receives a vote of non-confidence from their subordinates…the leader is a weak one.
Leader
Leadership
Leadership Development
Education
Toxic Leadership
Edited 9 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 95
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. . .Toxic Leadership
I thought I was uploading 3 pdfs with relative information
. . . I was wrong. If I remember, I'll convert one to jpeg after I finish this assignment.
I thought I was uploading 3 pdfs with relative information
. . . I was wrong. If I remember, I'll convert one to jpeg after I finish this assignment.
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SGT (Join to see)
Also, COL Mikel J. Burroughs, for future reference, I'd suggest adding links to the original content. As a writer myself, its always helpful to give backlinks to the original content. Over a year later, this is still great info.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SGT (Join to see) - I think I got away with posting this as a true question instead of a shared link with the original link to the article - don't tell anyone though!
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I have been at my civilian job for a long time now, and this is an epidemic in the American workplace. At times I have been very fortunate to have prior service military leaders placed in positions of leadership, and you can really see the difference.
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the information would Have been nice to Have 25 years ago to weed out a bunch of Bad ones... before they got too far...
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I served under a Commander who practiced numbers 3-7. It was disastrous for our Company and the effects are still being felt years later. Thankfully weak leaders are a minority in our force.
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I had a supervisor who got his position only because he made rank. He fit all 7 of them. It was very difficult to work for him.
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SCPO Morris Ramsey
Many people are "promoted" into leadership positions. Having ten years in grade does not mean you have ten years experience. Often you have one year of experience ten times. The old saying about with age comes wisdom does not always hold true. Many times age arrives alone.
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Sad but this is a major problem in my unit now. It's a problem we as leaders strive to prevent however, it is honestly destroying the morale as well as retention rate. Slowly but surely Senior leaders ( not in this category themselves) are recognizing the problems more and more and are being proactive.
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Yes, I have run into all 7 of them in my military and civilian career. I would say the military did more to develop my leadership capabilities than anything I have done as a civilian.
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Well, I can tell you I recognize a lot of this in a lot of the "leaders" I have around me now. All 7, in fact. Joy joy.
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Humility, active listening, good rapport with your staff and subordinates, knowing when to work and when to loosen up, communicating effectively and honestly and taking constructive criticism. If there's anything I learned in the military it was differentiating between good and bad leaders. I wish our leaders in public life could learn some of these and take them to heart!
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CWO2 Frank Slaby
SN Milller: Seems you already have a firm grasp on what it takes to be a good Petty Officer.
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