Outdated Leadership Behaviors to Unlearn Now
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Much of the world's progress from ancient times came from leadership. If we didn't have presidents, kings, or emperors, we wouldn't know order and civilization. But not all types of leadership resulted in something good. Considering all the wars we had, leadership was questionable at multiple points in history. Plus, our past leaders turned a blind eye to discrimination and brutal punishments.
Thankfully, we now live in a world where our standards for leaders have improved dramatically. We don't just look for educated or influential people anymore. We look for good people. They should be someone with both wits and compassion. Whether for a school organization, a country, or a workplace, we want that kind of leader. Otherwise, we have only a boss.
But sadly, many people with authority still practice outdated leadership behaviors. They're especially rampant in the workplace. Instead of inspiring their organizations, they overwork them and barely recognize their efforts. As a result, companies with such leaders suffer from a high turnover rate. To prevent your company from experiencing the same thing, here are the outdated leadership practices you should unlearn now:
1. Narcissism
If you think being a leader makes you always right, you're probably a narcissist. While your ideas may have more value than those of your subordinates, it doesn't automatically make you right all the time. A leader also makes mistakes, just like everyone else. And instead of blaming others for their mistakes, a leader owns up to them and takes steps to improve.
The habit of providing guidance for the sake of your own self-advancement is also a narcissist's way. When your staff seeks your advice, you should give it because you care for your staff's work performance. Giving the advice to make yourself look competent will eventually backfire on you. In time, your staff will notice that you treat them as pawns and leave the company.
2. Commanding
Sure, leading gives you the right to tell people what to do. But at the end of the day, your authority will be respected as much as you respect the people under your supervision. If you command only to ensure that everyone follows the organization's policies, you're a boss instead of a leader.
That's because a leader influences instead of commands. They encourage people to think for themselves, not just impose their ideals on them. In addition, a leader inspires others to find the best way forward, not force others that their way is the only one there is.
3. Having No Moral Philosophy
Tyrants and other types of power-obsessed people should no longer have authority in the workplace. They abuse their position and disregard company values. Such behavior is called having no moral philosophy. This type of leader doesn't care about fairness, social justice, and empathy.
So far, this behavior is the most toxic of all, yet it's also the most ignored. But we can't blame organizations for putting up with such a leader. Even if they raise their concerns and ask for a change, their leaders won't hear them out because a lack of moral philosophy makes one a narcissist and a bossy commander.
Thankfully, the culture of normalizing this type of leader is dying down. Startups today have more dynamic and empathetic leaders. Some have even abandoned the hierarchical system and made everyone equal. It won't work on every company, but if you're a small, tight-knit organization, it's worth trying out. Eliminating job titles and rankings can help you become more transparent, accountable, and free to express thoughts and ideas.
4. Exclusivity or Biases
Many marginalized groups have suffered so much because of workplace exclusivity. This is encouraged by leaders who refuse to accept people from certain groups under their wing. They can't unlearn their biases, breeding discrimination in the workplace.
Today, business managers and owners can undergo in-depth inclusive leadership training. Inclusive leadership is cited by millennials and Gen Z workers as part of what makes a company successful.
For them, a business leader should be committed to improving diversity and inclusion, aware of their biases, and culturally intelligent. They should welcome ideas from other perspectives, from people outside their race, gender identity, or nationality. This inclusive attitude can make a company gain insight from their actual market instead of merely assuming data.
5. Bigotry or Toxic Masculinity
For a long while, only men became business leaders, and women were kept as secretaries or administrative staff. Today, we're seeing more women business leaders because toxic masculinity is thankfully dying in the workplace.
Your company can open more amazing opportunities if your leadership is founded on empathy, cultural intelligence, humility, and inclusivity. Unlearn outdated behaviors now and see your company grow exponentially.
