By Shawna Williams
We talk so much about qualities of good leaders and how to identify potential leaders. We thought we’d share characteristics of a bad leader—things we often see when we begin a leadership executive coaching engagement.
Following are eight mistakes bad leaders make. Bad leaders:
1. Do not behave with integrity. Mismanaging funds, resources or even employees for personal gain not only is illegal, but is a near guarantee that the leader will destroy his or her personal brand and organization.
2. Insulate themselves from customers. We often see leaders who don’t get involved in social media, conferences or events where they can connect directly with – and especially, listen to – their customers. They’re forfeiting opportunities to understand their targets. 
3. Fail to listen to employees—and take action where action is needed. If employees are asking for more development or better resources to do their jobs, and leaders don’t act as much as they are able to, they risk watching their strongest employees walk out the door.
4. Fail to nurture employees and show them their worth. Bad leaders refuse to provide employees with better tools and resources as well as educational and learning opportunities. We also see them fail to make strong employees part of their succession plan or do not offer executive development programs or even outplacement programs. Leaders mistakenly don’t take care of their surviving employee population after a layoff.
5. Do not admit downfalls or blind spots. Bad leaders don’t seek feedback on their own performance—either from employees or customers—and are reluctant to admit mistakes and change.
6. Do not hold employees accountable. Leaders who do not push employees to get results are not doing anyone—or their organization—a favor. ...