We’ve all had bad bosses before. The ones that make us want to quit our jobs. The ones who stress us out even when we aren’t at work.
A study by Culture Amp showed that a lack of quality leadership is why one out of three people leave their jobs. We know these bosses aren’t good but have we thought about what exactly makes them bad or even toxic?
If we can put our finger on what the traits are that are forming us into mere miserable shadows of our potential, then we can make sure we aren’t like that when we lead.
I’ve been in military, corporate, and volunteer leadership positions for 25 years and have seen how applying the opposite of these traits can truly motivate your team.
1. Their Base Camp Is in the “CYA Zone”
A boss who is always playing it safe and not taking risks also probably isn’t making important decisions or standing up for their team when it counts.
These kinds of leaders aren’t motivating. They don’t dare to take a stand on decisions or stand up to the “higher-ups” to defend their team when needed. In other words, they’re always in Cover Your Ass mode.
