By: Michael W. Hill, Mobius Vendor Partners Executive Consultant, Author of: The 9 Keys to Leadership

I recently read an article that listed the 8 Signs to Quickly Point Out Someone With Bad Leadership Skills (the first 4 were addressed in Part 1.). At first I thought that this was an interesting title. But, then I thought why? Why not point out the good traits that a Leader needs? So, I’m going to share some of the questions from my book: The 9 Keys to Leadership and how they can help you overcome the “bad” skills.

1. Too much ego

Leaders that don’t hold themselves accountable can fall into the “too much ego” mindset. To prevent this ask yourself these questions:

i. Are you holding yourself accountable by objective measurements?

ii. Are you stretching yourself?

iii. Are you asking for and getting constructive feedback?

2. Resistance to learning and adaptation  

Leaders don’t know it all. They need to be open and always search for innovative ideas. Ask these questions:

i. What are you currently trying to learn? What is your routine for carving out time during the day to “learn” new things?

What do you read or listen to on a daily or weekly basis?

ii. What is on your list of things you don’t know?

iii. Do you share information? How?

iii. How big is your network? Is it inside and outside your organization?

Do you have a mentor or coach? Do you coach or mentor someone else?

3. Ethical lapses

Engaging in unethical behavior can cause serious harm to their organization. Leaders need to have the courage to do the right things. Ask yourself these questions:

i. Do you strive to always do the right thing, even when no one is watching?

ii. Do you ever suffer from paralysis by analysis? It is a serious obstacle to progress.

iii. Are you afraid to make tough calls?

4. Inability to address mental health issues, failing to manage conflicts, or not fostering an inclusive work environment

This topic relates to the culture of the organization. Ask yourself these questions to establish a strong culture:

i. Can you identify our organizations “why”? What is its purpose? How can you translate that into actionable steps that give everyone an opportunity to excel?

ii. Do you ask for others input?

iii. Is your communication a two-way street?

iv. Is your culture one of optimism? Does it match your organization’s vision and values?

v. Is your culture focused on a “one team” philosophy?

Do you ever wonder: “do your employees see you as a leader”? This question can only be answered by the employees themselves. Maybe a survey would help? You might be making some assumptions that are just not correct! Some of your employees may currently be looking for employment elsewhere because they don’t feel that they are being led by a leader.

You may want our help.

At Mobius’ Employee Experience – EX Consulting Employee Experience – Mobius Vendor Partners (mobiusvp.com) – we have the software to survey your employees so you can make the best decisions for your company and respond to your employees’ needs. Contact us to get started.

Mike’s book: The 9 Keys to Leadership can be found on amazon.