The Hidden Cost of Poor Leadership

Organisations have a tendency to promote people for their technical skills and ability up into positions of management or leadership. The skill set for managers or leaders however, can be quite different to that of their previous role. Despite well intentions, without working on developing their leadership skills, managers or leaders who find themselves in positions of power can create workplace cultures that foster disunity, harm team morale, reduce productivity and decrease organisational wellbeing.

Signs that leadership is unhealthy in your organisation include the following:

1. Poor Communication

• Lack of transparency
• Withholding important information
• Frequent mixed or contradictory messages
• Ignoring or dismissing employee concerns

2. Micromanagement

• Excessive control over minor details
• Lack of trust in employees’ abilities
• Discouraging independent thinking and decision-making

3. Lack of Accountability

• Blaming others for mistakes
• Taking credit for employees’ work
• Avoiding responsibility for poor decisions

4. Favouritism & Unfair Treatment

• Unequal treatment of employees
• Rewarding personal loyalty over competence
• Creating in-groups and out-groups

5. Encouraging a Fear-Based Culture

• Using intimidation or threats
• Retaliating against those who speak up
• Making employees afraid to make mistakes

6. Emotional Instability & Unprofessionalism

• Frequent mood swings and unpredictable reactions
• Publicly shaming or humiliating employees
• Outbursts of anger or passive-aggressiveness

7. Lack of Empathy & Support

• Dismissing employee wellbeing
• No interest in personal or professional growth
• Ignoring work-life balance

8. Resistance to Feedback & Change

• Rejecting constructive criticism
• Viewing dissent as disloyalty
• Clinging to outdated methods despite inefficiency

9. Sabotaging Team Collaboration

• Encouraging competition over teamwork
• Withholding resources or support
• Discouraging cross-departmental cooperation

10. High Employee Turnover & Low Morale

• Frequent resignations and burnout
• Low motivation and engagement
• Employees feeling undervalued and unappreciated

Unfortunately, if you’ve been trained under a manager or leader with this type of behaviour, or spent a decent amount of time under their influence you may act out some of these behaviours without awareness yourself or alternatively have shied away from shining your own light at work. As a result, unlearning and relearning in a healthier environment is needed for you to make changes that will benefit both your personal and professional wellbeing. It is also possible that your mental health can be impacted due to exposure to this psychosocial harm. 

If you need assistance in recovering from an unhealthy workplace, developing your own leadership skills or finding a new direction reach out for a confidential discussion in the different ways we can help.