What are the implications if leaders are inflexible in adjusting their style?

Answer 1

There seems to be a real deficit in good leadership and a large surplus of poor and pathetic leadership in many businesses today. One can easily find example after example of poor and pathetic leadership and the resulting impacts on employees, in particular, and the health of the business, in general. So what are these poor and pathetic styles of leadership? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers a list of ten (10) styles of poor and pathetic leadership.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #1: NON-VISIONARY

This style totally lacks a clearly focused and defined vision for the business.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #2: UNETHICAL

This style has a total lack of commitment to high ethical standards and high standards of personal conduct.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #3: INFLEXIBLE

This style exhibits an unwillingness to adapt to change.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #4: DISHONEST

This style has a lack of honesty and includes being prone to lying, cheating and/or stealing.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #5: SELF-CENTERED

This style has the character of an egotist and someone who will always put self above any other interest of the company and/or employees.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #6: INCOMPETENT

This style has someone with a lack of experience, skill and/or training to be a leader.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #7: LOOSE CANON

This style has someone with a lack of self-control and discipline.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #8: UNCARING

This style totally ignores or disregards the needs, wants and desires of others, especially employees.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #9: ISOLATIONIST

This style minimizes or disregards the needs and well being of anyone outside the group or employees where they have direct responsibility.

Poor & Pathetic Leadership Style #10: SABATOEUR

This style includes deliberate actions to disrupt, prevent or in some way cause to fail or falter the implementation of new ideas and changes or something the leader opposes doing.

Okay – what are some of the impacts of these poor and pathetic leadership styles? A 2005 survey by Price Waterhouse Coopers found U.S. companies spent an average of 48 days and $3,270 filling a vacancy. Another nationwide survey showed 67% of working adults ere actually looking for another job and another 34% plan to change employers within the next 3 years. The American Institute of Certified Accountants found 83% of their member firms cited the inability to retain employees as a factor in their ability to grow their business. And another survey found that 85% of managers believed employees leave because of pay or better opportunities, while 80% of employees said it was poor management practices or toxic cultures as the reason for their leaving. WOW – there seems to be a big disconnect on this one. And if this is not enough to give you an idea of the impact, I suggest you visit www.perfectlaborstorm.com and learn more.

Your strategic thinking business coach challenges you to have “zero tolerance” for any of these poor and pathetic leadership styles in your business or organization.