Top 10 Signs You Are Failing As A Leader

Being a leader isn’t as simple as handing out commands to those who work in your group or
below you in an organization. In fact, you have to be likable, you must communicate well with
those you are in charge of, and you have to know what you are leading them to do. All to often
leaders feel that they have to dictate; rather, you should focus on communication, being in
charge of those you lead, but still treating those you lead with respect.
If you want to do well as a leader, it is of utmost importance to know your role, and fully
understand the project. If you are leading people blindly, if you simply yell out commands, and
if you treat all those you are leading as an inferior, it will truly ruin your relationship early on.
These are some mistakes people make in leading, which causes to their eventual demise as a
group or organization’s leader.

10. Inability To Organize Details

If you want people to follow you, a detailed plan is essential. If you are simply winging it, and
trying to do thing sporadically, you are never going to get people to follow you. It is important to
lay out a detailed plan, give people different roles, teach individuals what their role is in the
group, and constantly reassess the details and plans. If you are simply taking things in stride,
and don’t have a detailed plan, failure is bound to occur.

9. Lack Of Humility

People don’t want to follow a haughty leader; they don’t want to seem like the work group they
are in only looks at them as a pawn in the organization. As a leader, you should be humble;
you should admit to being wrong, give praise where it is due, and you should treat everyone as
an equal. If you are resentful, and simply have the “do as I say mentality,” you are going to fail
quickly, and alienate those who work below you quickly.

8. Expectations Of Pay

If you have graduate level degrees, speak several languages, and aren’t the leader of a group,
you feel like you aren’t being utilized as you should be. People who have the mentality of “I
should be paid for what I know,” rather than their experience to lead, and get people to willingly
follow, are going to fail.
In many cases, your subordinate isn’t as educated, or doesn’t have as many degrees; but, they
are a leader because of their ability to work in the organization, give commands, yet treat their
employees like they are important. If you have a certain mentality of superiority, before ever
working a day as a leader, failure is going to occur.

7. Fear Of Competitors

If you are always fearful that one of your employees will surpass you, so you don’t
fully utilize their skills, this is a failure. As a leader, you should want the people
working with you to do their best, and offer what they can to improve the group.
Rather than look at them as competition, if a follower does surpass you, it should be
viewed as a compliment, not a threat.

6. Lack Of Imagination

If you are constantly redoing what has been done, don’t have any new ideas, and
can’t think creatively, failure is sure to follow. Especially in today’s day and age,
there are so many new products, inventions, and creative products coming out. If
you can’t think outside the box, people won’t follow you.

5. Selfishness

If you are the type of leader that is in charge of a group, simply to better yourself,
people may follow, but will do so with a grudge. Those who think about themselves
over the group, want the raise, and don’t care what happens to those who do all the
work for them, will continue to grow; but, eventually failure will follow, as people
will not continue to follow you and the commands you give. You can only go as far as
your group; if you are selfish and only care about your success, this will alienate
them over time.

4. Lack Of Respect

Intemperance is another issue. If you don’t feel respected, or if you don’t elicit
respect from those below you, how can you lead them? If you lack self confidence, and
the ability to moderate, who will follow?
Eventually, people will see through a facade, and won’t follow you any longer, as
they see you do not have the ability to lead, and do not have the ability to push a
group through the tasks they have to complete.

3. Loyalty Issues

If you are constantly abusing power, if you are always doing things for yourself,
rather than the group, and if you constantly put yourself ahead of the group, they
will eventually figure it out. Because being a leader requires you to garner respect
from those below you, if you are dishonest and disloyal to them, they will eventually
stop following you and the commands you give to them.

2. Position Of “Authority”

If the only thing you hold over those who follow you is a title, you aren’t a leader.
You have to show leadership, you have to show prowess, you have to show you can
be a good communicator and get people to follow you. If you are simply hoping to be
followed, because you are given the title of authority, people below you will figure it
out, and will turn elsewhere for work, and for someone who truly has the ability to
lead.

1. Emphasis Of Title

If the only way you get people to follow you is saying, I’m the boss, or I have the
ability to fire you, are you a real leader? Emphasis of title, rather than showing how
you can lead, and doing things that better your workflow, is eventually going to
catch up to you.
Just because you have the title, doesn’t mean you always have to let people know
this. You will be far more respected as a leader, if you act like part of the group, as
opposed to acting like the most important thing in that group. Abuse of power, and title,
will eventually lead to your demise.
Being a leader is about more than holding a title. If you get too big headed, if you

don’t have authority, and if you can’t truly lead a team to do what’s best for them
and the organization, failure will follow. Therefore, rather than float the title
around, show you are a great leader by your actions, rather than always telling
people you are their boss.

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