Most professionals dream of becoming independent entrepreneurs or senior managers at some point in their careers.
What they usually don’t think about is that genuine leaders possess a wide range of skills that helps them to maintain team motivation and achieve the planned results. That’s why incompetence transforms a lot of managers into tyrant bosses.
Many entrepreneurs unconsciously bully employees instead of encouraging them. This destroys the business as they are unaware that job satisfaction plays a crucial role in workers’ engagement.
Reports even suggest that more than 80% of employees consider good relations with senior management the most important job success factor.
What makes someone autocratic?
There is a subtle and thin line between these two types of leaders. We made a list of four factors that you need to consider while deciding whether you are a true leader or a bully boss.
1. You Don’t Listen to What Employees Say
You may not always agree with an employee’s opinion, but it is absolutely necessary to listen to what they have to say and take it into account.
A good leader will consult with teammates often to encourage independent thinking and creativity. You don’t have to approve their proposals.
This is especially important when you are superior to young people who still don’t feel too relaxed. A recent survey showed that younger workers feel the biggest anxiety at work and the least amount of loyalty to their employers.
This happens mostly due to unreasonable managers who simply don’t care about their employees. It ruins many talents or chases them away, so be careful not to do this to your company.
2. You Criticize Too Much
Being the boss is not pleasant on many occasions.
Your workers will make mistakes every now and then, so you have to criticize and prevent similar mistakes. That’s all part of the working and learning processes in the organization.
However, a problem occurs if you criticize too much.
If you don’t like a single detail in any project, then the problem lies with you. It only proves that you don’t really have the worker’s best interests in mind.
Critics are good when they serve their purpose: to improve company results and employees’ productivity.
Dakota Gratwick, the content writer at Aussiewritings.com, says, “Leaders have huge knowledge and practical experience. They also have skills to turn criticism into inspiration for employees to learn more and achieve more.”
3. You Don’t Judge By Professional Criteria
The worst thing entrepreneurs can do is judge employees according to irrelevant criteria, such as the way a person talks, eye or hair color, gender, race, or even their favorite movie.
If you are full of prejudice and judge a book by its cover, you are no material for a leader.
This element of bad leadership is easy to detect by employees. It doesn’t even require verbal communication. It’s enough that you let out a sigh or roll your eyes when you pass your target.
Be aware that this kind of behavior will destroy an employee’s professional efforts and make them totally indifferent to the company’s mission.
The analysis of attitudes in young people revealed that more than 70% of millennials only want their employers to treat them fairly. It’s as simple as that.
4. Not Enough Competence to be the Leader
So far, you must’ve realized that not every manager is an all-knowing super-leader. A lot of them actually lack knowledge and experience for some important decisions, but they are also too scared or ashamed to admit it to their employees.
Eventually, these managers make spontaneous decisions relying on pure luck, which can have devastating effects on the company.
Don’t be afraid of asking others for their advice or opinion. It can enrich both yourself and your colleagues. Additionally, you will strengthen team collaboration and offer a more comfortable work environment to the employees.
A genuine leader knows when it’s time to come out and say they need help. That’s the biggest virtue of a good leader.
Conclusion
Great leaders don’t just happen to be. They actually learn and evolve to become who they are.
We’ve seen here how some traits can make senior managers become bad superiors, but all it takes is honesty and self-training to improve.
Start by organizing team-building sessions or corporate events to get closer to your employees.
Free your mind from prejudice, and ask questions. Soon, you will realize how it’s much better to work in a relaxed partnership.
Don’t criticize workers just to humiliate them, do it to make improvements. Be open-minded, and you’ll become an excellent leader.
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What Makes a Leader and What Makes an Autocratic Boss?
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