Lazy leadership is something I’m sure we’ve all encountered at one time or another throughout our careers. We might even be guilty of some of these behaviors ourselves! I certainly won’t pretend that my leadership is always perfect.
Maybe you’re reading this because you think you have a lazy boss. Perhaps you’re worried that you yourself are a terrible boss. I will say this: bad bosses don’t worry about whether or not they’re bad bosses. If you care about the quality of your leadership, you’re already in a better position than the other guy.
That said, I want to warn against some seemingly innocent behaviors that may indicate you’re not putting your best effort into your role or team. There’s still time to turn back and course-correct!
6 Red Flags That Indicate Lazy Leadership
Red Flag #1 – You provide very little oversight or direction.
Some of us are so afraid of micromanagement that we go too far in the other direction. Your team needs your leadership and guidance. They need to know that they’re doing good work. They need to be told where improvements must be made. If you don’t, your team will feel like they’re standing on quicksand.
Remember: the quality of their work directly reflects on you and your business. Ultimately, the buck stops with you. So while you want an autonomous and self-starting team, you also need to take the necessary steps to ensure high-quality work.
Lazy leaders don’t give direction or feedback – positive or negative – and let their team flounder in the process.
Red Flag #2 – You’re tough to get ahold of.
Setting boundaries is essential to a healthy life. I’d never suggest that the boss should be on call 24/7. That said, if clients and teammates have trouble getting ahold of you during regular working hours, it could indicate a problem. You could be “too busy,” but that means you must make time. Your time management could use work if you can’t afford to answer a chat message or a phone call.
Red Flag #3 – You take a passive approach to problems.
I get it – some people are exceptionally uncomfortable with conflict. They don’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole. Understand, though, that leaders don’t have the luxury of opting out. It’s your job to mediate, troubleshoot, and problem-solve. When you’re on top of problems, they don’t have time to fester or snowball. If you find yourself shying away from conflict resolution, it could indicate lazy leadership.
A word of warning, too: if you address issues, you must follow through with your solutions. Failing to do so is weak leadership and tells your team you aren’t unreliable.
Red Flag #4 – You’re disorganized.
Disorganization will make you an ineffective leader. Lazy bosses can’t keep up with important documents and details, miss deadlines, and forget meetings. It’s your responsibility to put measures in place to stay organized. Some of us are naturally less organized and mindful than others. If that’s the case, you must make additional provisions to ensure things don’t fall through the cracks.
Red Flag #5 – Your standards & expectations aren’t solid.
Lazy bosses may maintain high standards for their team, but they lower them for themselves. They may not hold themselves accountable to the same standards they expect from others, leading to a lack of motivation within the team. Remember, you set the expectations.
A lack of vision can cause your team to work towards wildly different goals. Lay out what you expect from your people and your vision for the business. Then, hold yourself accountable to the same standards.
Red Flag #6 – You embrace the status quo.
Lazy leaders are perfectly content to stay right where they are. They’re not interested in growth, landing more prominent clients and contracts, or changing the status quo. For these leaders, growing pains are to be avoided at all costs. After all, they demand extra effort. Lazy leaders aren’t willing to sacrifice the time and energy it takes to build a better business. If you’re resisting change, ask yourself why!
Not all of these qualities automatically indicate lazy leadership…but they might and are problems regardless. If you’re wrestling with these issues, fear not. There’s time to change. You aren’t destined for a life of lazy leadership. Instead, do the difficult but necessary work of forming new habits, establishing better systems, and improving your leadership style.
What helps you start and maintain new, better habits? Share in the comments!