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4 Signs Your Leadership Style Is Too Harsh

Leadership is not for everyone. You know how tough it can be to squash office conflict or delegate tasks effectively. When you’re commanding a team, it can be difficult to balance being stern with being compassionate. You want to encourage your staff members to succeed, not push them so that they crack under pressure. The most productive leaders are able to stay organized and motivate their people to succeed. Here are four signs you might be a harsh leader.

1.     No Feedback

If you’re providing or receiving feedback, you want to look for some telltale clues your leadership style is too rough. If you’re giving feedback and the employee doesn’t ask for clarification, agree with your point, or ask questions, it’s possible they are intimidated. No response means they aren’t processing what you’re telling them, which means they won’t be able to rectify any shortcomings. Give constructive criticism in a way that isn’t too tough by giving them measurable ways they can make a change. Additionally, you want to be open to constructive feedback so your people feel like you respect their input.

2.     Awkward Conversation

If you can’t seem to successfully strike up a casual conversation with your staff, it could mean they don’t feel comfortable with you. You will also know your staff finds you too abrasive if you walk into a room and people stop talking. Make sure you’ve earned your staff’s respect, not their fear. If you can’t communicate casually with your employees, they won’t feel like they can come to you when they have bigger concerns. Try to facilitate casual conversation by taking a genuine concern in their interests.

3.     Overbearing Meetings

Dominating a meeting is no way to work with your team. If you feel your staff meetings aren’t going well, it could be because you’re doing too much talking and not enough listening. Ask for feedback, and find out if anyone has questions or concerns. Don’t demand the presence of your staff and scrutinize them in a public setting. If you need to review rules or issues with a team member, take time to meet with them one-on-one, rather than calling them out in front of everyone.

4.     Decreased Productivity

Notice a change in workflow? Your staff once produced all projects in a timely manner, but now you’re seeing some serious slacking. This could be because you’re pushing your staff too hard. If you’re applying too much pressure to your staff members by tightening deadlines and stern speech, you may see the opposite of your intended effect happen. Instead of constantly reminding your staff exactly what needs to be done and when, brainstorm a public and effective method of communication so you don’t have to babysit your workers.
 
You can also identify your leadership style using this quiz. If you can understand your shortcomings, you can work on them to create a more cohesive team environment.
 

Looking for More Leaderships Tips?

For more ways to revise your professional methods, check out the resources from Job Store Staffing®. As a top staffing agency in Colorado, we can help you find the best ways to lead your team and bring in top new candidates. Contact us today to learn more!

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