5 Signs Of Bad Leadership And How To Rise Above It

Forbes

14-05-2025

According to recent studies, as many as 82% of American workers are willing to quit their jobs because of bad leadership. When employees work under ineffective leaders, they're more likely to disengage from their work, a phenomenon known as "quiet quitting." They may physically remain at their desks, but mentally, they've checked out. The financial impact is significant: increased recruitment costs, reduced profitability, and difficulty attracting talent in our connected world where reputation spreads rapidly. To help you identify and address bad leadership, I've compiled a list of the five most damaging behaviors and how to respond effectively to each one.
A lack of communication skills is the most obvious sign of bad leadership. Poor communicators fail to articulate expectations, withhold critical information, and, most importantly, don't listen to their team members. When leaders communicate inconsistently or go "radio silent," they create uncertainty and anxiety, leaving employees questioning their standing and disconnected from organizational goals. A leader who doesn't listen sends a clear message that employee input isn't valued, preventing the organization from benefiting from collective intelligence while leaving team members feeling undervalued and disengaged.
How to respond:
If you're dealing with a poor communicator:
If you recognize poor communication tendencies in yourself as a leader:
Micromanagers create stifling work environments by exerting excessive control over every decision and process. Employees find themselves unable to exercise autonomy or creativity, resulting in a team that feels untrusted and undervalued.
Beyond the immediate impact on morale, this style of bad leadership has serious long-term consequences:
How to respond:
If you're being micromanaged:
If you recognize micromanagement tendencies in yourself as a leader:
Managers who avoid accountability create toxic workplace cultures. These leaders display several problematic behaviors:
This bad leadership behavior erodes trust throughout the organization. When employees see leaders avoiding responsibility, they learn that accountability isn't valued, and may begin to adopt similar behaviors themselves. The result is a culture where mistakes are hidden and problems persist because no one takes ownership.
How to respond:
If you're dealing with an unaccountable leader:
If you recognize accountability issues in your own leadership:
In today's business world, resistance to change is an example of bad leadership. Managers who fear change or growth often display these characteristics:
Teams led by change-resistant leaders become complacent and risk-averse. They lose their competitive edge as more agile competitors adapt to market shifts and technological advancements that they ignore.
How to respond:
If you're dealing with a change-resistant leader:
If you recognize resistance to change in yourself as a leader:
Leaders who can't understand and respond to the emotions, needs, and perspectives of others create environments where people don't feel valued as human beings. This style of bad leadership shows up in various ways: dismissing employee concerns, failing to consider how decisions affect team members, being unable to read the emotional temperature of a room, showing little interest in employees' lives outside work, and making decisions based solely on metrics without considering human impact. Without empathy, leaders struggle to build genuine connections with their teams. They miss important cues about employee well-being and engagement. They make decisions that, while technically sound, fail to account for the human element of work, leading to resistance, resentment, and eventually, resignation.
How to respond:
If you're dealing with an empathy-deficient leader:
If you recognize empathy deficits in your own leadership approach:
If you're dealing with bad leadership on a daily basis, remember that you aren't powerless, even in difficult situations. Set clear boundaries, seek support from trusted colleagues or mentors, and focus on what you can control within your role. If you recognize these negative qualities in your own leadership style, embrace this as an opportunity for growth. Leadership is a privilege and a responsibility—one that directly impacts the lives and livelihoods of others. By committing to continuous improvement and remaining open to feedback, you can build a leadership legacy of positive impact where people don't just survive but truly thrive under your guidance.