9 Obsolete Leadership Traits

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A new wave of leaders is entering the market today. Whether it is a Millennial or a reformed Gen X leader, many old methods of leadership have proven to be ineffective. 

Over time there have been many different leadership traits and techniques that were effective at the time they were written about or introduced. I have observed a few leadership styles that have become obsolete in 2018, the practice of which will cause any leader to stumble!

1. The Micro-Manager

Sometimes known as the control freak. You know this type don't you? While it is important to stay in control as a leader, micromanaging is not a technique that I would recommend. The Millennial generation values freedom and flexibility. Of course that is in direct conflict to the Micro-Manager.

Micromanaging simply doesn't empower your team nor does it generate innovation. If you try and control every move your team make, they will resist this style, will become distant and will pursue other opportunities. Trust plays an important role in effective leadership and micromanaging displays a seemingly lack of trust in the efforts of your team. 

2. Excessively Optimistic

Decision making is a critical skill for a leader. Making effective decisions is not as easy as it sounds. As competition increases and the company diversifies, the decisions require increased contemplation and collaboration. A leader who has the habit of exaggerating the benefits of a particular decision and keeps an unrealistically optimistic approach when making decisions will many times end up making the wrong decision. Be open to the critical eye and the collaboration. It will result in better decision and more effective results.


3. Self-love

Modern culture believes in an equality that spreads to the upper ranks of management and organizational leadership. Narcissism has no place in the modern culture. Once upon a time it was a common practice for leaders to gloat, take pride in their accomplishments and tout their success. Today, this attitude just does not work. We are expected to keep our ego's in check and be humbler than ever. An effective leader is one who is seen as an approachable and adopts servant leadership as a path to follow.

4. Zero Listening Ability

This style of leadership is similar to the one mentioned above. Another form of narcissistic leadership is the one that does not assign value to what others have to say. Such leaders lack an ability to listen and their only focus is on what they have to say. No collaboration, not hearing the opinions from others when making decisions and only inform their team of decisions once they are made. This saps the energy, enthusiasm and engagement from the team and they are left feeling under-valued and unappreciated. It is then a domino effect to a lack of productivity, no engagement and an eventual exit from the company.

5. Anything Goes

Respect is an important element and is necessary to create a positive environment in the company. Some laid-back leaders misunderstand the term flexibility and end up having a relaxed attitude towards everything that happens around them. No boundaries at all. Such leaders are seldom respected by the team working with them. It's the old saying "if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything". Every method and action can't possibly be acceptable. When a leader doesn't set boundaries and define values, the team may at first feel great that they can do what they want but this soon morphs into a lack of respect and can prove to be damaging to the health of the company.  Know your values and more importantly, make sure your team knows the values of the organization and your leadership style.

6. No Appreciation

Feedback is vital to employee satisfaction. Gone are the days of the annual review being the only feedback and appreciation of the year. A team expects regular feedback and ongoing coaching regarding their performance at work. Make your team aware of the positives and the areas for improvement. Take the time to catch someone being great. It works.

7. Blame

Constructive criticism is an essential skill that every leader should develop. I have worked with people who seem to only be looking for someone to blame when things go south. My observations are that these "leaders" have a very stern and serious appearance and needless to say, are not seen as being approachable. It is imperative as a leader that we know how to distinguish between the tasks and individuals. If a particular task goes wrong nothing is gained by assigning blame on a single person.  Allowing people to fail is the new leadership trait. It is by the failures and the mistakes that we grow and learn.

8. To the Rescue

They just saved everything! The company, your job or whatever the situation is, the leader put his cape on and an "S" on his chest and saved the world. Have you seen this? OR better yet, I have watched some "leaders" go as far as to create chaos and problems so that they can emerge as the savior. Such a style of leadership has never been productive and is one that needs to be erased! The need for acknowledgment and glory should not be more important than the purpose of your role.  See a common theme on ego here? 

9. Do As I Say, Not As I Do


My pet peeve!. Leaders who demand compliance with the rules and behaviors yet they do not follow the same rules. This is unacceptable yet it is still prevalent in today's society. A leader should never ask anyone to do something that they are not willing to do themselves nor should a leader try to enforce rules and behaviors that they themselves do not comply with. I see it on a regular basis and then you wonder why people won't follow. Times have changed. 

Bottom Line

Leadership has evolved and changed dramatically in recent years. With a wide variety of personalities, the influence of the Millennial generation, the focus on purpose and a style of servant leadership,  every leader should change and adopt the right strategies. Employees today demand more than ever in terms of flexibility, versatility and empowerment in their daily roles. Be an effective leader. Leave these old traits behind and adopt traits that build trust and respect. Your team will thank you. 
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Wesley Middleton author of Violent Leadership: Be a Force for Change. Disrupt. Innovate. Energize. (ForbesBooks), co-founder and managing partner of Middleton Raines + Zapata LLP (MRZ), a tax and accounting services firm, and is also an executive team member for MRZ Financial and SKY Valuation. With over 25 years of tax compliance and consulting experience, he has demonstrated a knack for helping business owners transform their companies into growth and strategy-oriented organizations that excel in operations, marketing, technology, customer service, and workforce engagement, as well as tax and accounting services. Middleton is a certified public accountant and member of the AICPA, Texas Society of CPAs, and the Association of Accounting Marketing.



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