You may be an expert in your field and personally good at what you do, but if your intention is growing the business then you have to be able to bring on and lead others effectively. Without followers, you will be limited to doing only what you are capable of doing alone. Without committed followers, growth isn’t possible.
No matter how great the company or the job is, no one willingly follows someone for long who is guilty of the seven deadly sins of leadership:
Egotism
“It’s all about me” – my ideas, my way, what’s good for me. People will walk away if their boss’ arrogance, self-serving interests and constant need to take credit for the good work of others kill their interest and enthusiasm.
Insensitivity
People hate leaders with a total indifference to the feelings of others, leaders who are clueless about what they say or the decisions they make in the business and their effects on others’ work and lives. People will walk away if their boss’ failure to consider their feedback and lack of empathy unexpected kills their motivation.
Lack of Credibility
A leader’s word is important. People will walk away if a leader always breaks his promise, doesn’t does as say or misses vital points in a presentation or when during a briefing.
Mistrust
People will walk away if their boss’ failure to trust them to do what they know how to do in ways that are in the best interests of the company kills their initiative and makes them into dispassionate robots just filling time doing exactly what they’re told to do.
Indecision
People will walk away if their boss’ inability to decide one way or the other and stick to it causes confusion and frustration about what’s next and kills any hope of forward progress.
Negativity
No matter what anybody says or does it isn’t right. The glass is ALWAYS half-empty and the sky is ALWAYS falling, and when something doesn’t turn out… “See, I TOLD you it wouldn’t work!” People will walk away if their boss’ consistently black mood kills their desire and motivation to turn problems into opportunities.
Lack of Direction
If a leader is not focused, is distracted, making decisions aimlessly and trying too hard to accomplish everything, people will walk away as their boss’ lack of vision and clarity about the organization’s purpose and goals has them confused and kills their willingness to get behind and follow.
