Four lessons you can learn from incompetent leaders

Not all managers are effective and inspiring: some are genuinely poor and incompetent. However, even these individuals have something to teach us. Here are four lessons that can be learnt from incompetent leaders.

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Importance of respecting boundaries between personal and professional life

According to Entrepreneur, some of the worst managers are those who expect subordinates to reply to emails at eight o’clock in the evening. They are surprised that employees can't work at weekends or need to pick up their children from kindergarten. Work is only work and managers should understand that people’s personal lives should be and remain their priority.

Leading through fear is ineffective

Many poor managers believe that the stricter and more assertive they are, the better results their team will achieve. Many even try to lead through fear. However, it is well known that such leadership is ineffective: not only does it frustrate and stress employees, but above all demotivates them and significantly worsens their work performance.

Micromanagement leads to frustration and inefficient work

Excessive interest in the details of what employees are doing does not yield better results. Instead it leads to a lack of creativity and prevents employees from working independently and developing. A better approach for a manager is to allow subordinates increasingly more freedom and the power to make decisions about their own work.

Admitting mistakes is not a sign of weakness

Managers who act as if they know everything best are not effective leaders. Quite the opposite: managers who can admit their mistakes, occasionally set aside their ego and willingly accept that their subordinates may do something better, are perceived by their teams with greater respect and are generally better leaders.

 

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Article source Entrepreneur.com - website of a leading U.S. magazine for entrepreneurs
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