It is often said that people leave managers, not companies. This is because a manager's ability to lead their team directly impacts employee satisfaction and retention. A leader creates psychological safety, empowering employees to take risks and be creative. A manager, on the other hand, may struggle to produce results if they do not have the necessary leadership skills. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between leadership and management, and note three key points to help you spot a lack of leadership in a manager.
If you've ever worked in a negative or toxic environment, chances are it was due to a lack of leadership from your manager. A leaderless team is often unengaged, unmotivated, and unhappy. This can lead to high turnover rates, as employees look for greener pastures. So how can you spot a manager who is struggling to support their team? Here's 3 key points for recognizing a lack of leadership:
1) The team is unhappy. A happy team is a productive team. When employees are satisfied with their work, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to their company. An unhappy team, on the other hand, is often unproductive and may even spread negativity to other departments or teams.
2) Employees are appearing unengaged. An engaged team is passionate, committed, and enthusiastic about their work. They are also more likely to stay with the company for the long haul. A disengaged team, on the other hand, is often checked out and unmotivated. This can lead to high turnover rates, as employees look for greener pastures.
3) There is an obvious lack of psychological safety. Psychological safety is the belief that you will not be punished for taking risks or speaking up. This environment allows employees to feel comfortable being themselves, sharing ideas, and taking chances. Without psychological safety, employees are often afraid to speak up or share new ideas, leading to a feeling of stagnation.
These points help show that the problem might not be the teams themselves, but rather the lack of leadership from the manager. If you find yourself in a situation where your team is unhappy, unengaged, or there is a lack of psychological safety, it might be time to have a conversation with your manager about the way they are leading the team. After all, people don't leave companies - they leave managers.
What other points would you add to this list for recognizing a lack of leadership? Feel free to comment below.