4 Things Leaders Should Never Do

It’s always great to aspire to how you can improve as a boss to better your team’s morale and productivity, but it is just as important to consider things you may be doing that are hindering those benefits, and take steps to stop it.

Below are 4 things leaders should never, ever do in the workplace:

Micromanage

Do you feel the incredible need to oversee everything that is being done by your staff down to the last tee?

Do you feel like your office would fall apart without you?
If that is the case, you are micromanaging.

By not allowing your employees to have the freedom and space to make their own decisions about how best to do their work, you are putting both them and you at a disadvantage.

You are limiting their growth and decision making skills, while limiting your free time to focus on your own tasks.

Be Afraid To Make Decisions

There is a fine line between seeking the opinions of your staff members and involving them in the process of coming up to a mutual decision, and being afraid to make a decision yourself.

A true leader should want to hear their team’s opinion, but they must be able to make a quick, educated and confident decision without second guessing themselves.

Fail To Set Actionable Goals

Your employees need to know what their objectives are, how to achieve them and when they are due.

When individuals are confused about their overall assignments and tasks, chaos breaks loose, mistakes are made and deadlines are missed.

It is the duty of the manager to work with their employees to set actionable goals that the individuals can accomplish using the tools and skills they possess.

Fail To Be Empathetic

While you should not bend over backwards and close your eyes to your employees’ failures, you need to be empathetic towards your team.

Leaders who do not show empathy to their staff are not regarded positively, respected or liked in the office.

Treat your employees how you would want to be treated—respecting the fact that they have families, responsibilities and their own private lives.

Accept that there are days when they may be more tired due to an illness or stressed out from a family emergency.

If you treat your workers with empathy, they will return that and more to you in terms of their hard work and loyalty.