Small Businesses

8 things you should immediately stop doing when you’re a leader

  • 4 min Read
  • March 10, 2022

Author

Neha De
Neha De

Neha De is a writer and editor with more than 13 years of experience. She has worked on a variety of genres and platforms, including books, magazine articles, blog posts and website copy. She is passionate about producing clear and concise content that is engaging and informative. In her spare time, Neha enjoys dancing, running and spending time with her family.

Table of Contents

Most of the time, high-powered leaders focus on what they should do. They pay too much attention to things such as coming up with new ideas, developing new strategies, figuring out how to implement new ideas or achieve set targets, and so on. While these are essentials for running a successful business, it is also essential for them to take the time to reflect on what they should not do. 


So, what should leaders stop doing to help further the growth of their employees and themselves?


Take a look at the top eight things every leader should immediately commit to stop doing: 


1. Not taking time to connect with team members

– A leader cannot be effective if they are not interested in employees on a human level or is interested in them but does not make an effort to bond with them.



Bonding creates deep emotional connections, and to bond, leaders need to make an effort to get to know their employees and understand what makes them tick.


2. Not being accessible and available

– While leaders should delegate, this should not lead to emotional detachment. Leaders who have a completely hands-off approach after assigning tasks might make their staff members feel abandoned.



Continued accessibility and connection are the keys to successful delegation. Leaders need to perpetuate a sense of connection by letting their employees know that they are available. This means creating channels for employees to reach out when needed.


3. Not prioritizing employee development

– Many a time, leaders are too focused on achieving business goals and may end up ignoring their workers’ desire to learn and grow.



Humans have an inherent need to learn and to expand their competencies and skill sets while doing their jobs. Leaders need to realize that learning is an intrinsic part of achieving results, and prioritizing learning and development allows them to become great leaders that people want to work with.


4. Avoiding giving regular performance feedback

– Employees can perform well only if they know how effective they are at their workplace. Since providing negative feedback can be challenging, leaders may choose not to do it. However, learning to communicate complex truths about performance can help them unlock the doors of higher performance.


5. Expecting workers to approach them first

– Many leaders rely on only open-door policies and expect their team members to come up to them when needed. This style of communication may make leaders less accessible to their employees.



Instead, if needed, leaders should bend the rules of communication according to the needs of their staff members. They should make an effort to go up to where the employees are instead of always expecting them to engage with them.


6. Not displaying empathy

– Empathy is a highly crucial leadership skill and some leaders do not give empathy its due. Research shows that empathy drives employee outcomes such as innovation, engagement and inclusion. Empathetic leaders are able to understand the needs of their employees and be aware of their thoughts and feelings.


7. Micromanaging

– Employees hate it when they are micromanaged. Yet, some leaders believe that managing workers means planning, administering and controlling activities and, hence, people.


On the other hand, in order to lead effectively, one must inspire, encourage and challenge people to perform at their best by building a sense of trust and presenting positive risks.


8. Wasting one-on-one meetings

– Often, one-on-one sessions are spent on status updates, which is a complete waste of time and opportunity to engage and align employees. Leaders should use this time to deal with significant challenges and issues a team member may be facing. They should also use this opportunity to align personal and professional goals and targets, and identify development opportunities. 


Bottom line



Leaders need to let go of the behaviors and routines that smother innovation and creativity. Instead, they should try to inject the days with actions that inform, captivate and stimulate the people around them.

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

People Management & HR

2025 Employment Law Updates: What to Know

As we step into 2025, businesses across the country face several important updates in labor laws and employee benefits. Staying...

Read More
Startups

5 Signs Your Startup Needs an Outsourced CFO  

5 Signs Your Startup Needs an Outsourced CFO   Startups often operate with lean teams, but as they grow, financial complexity...

Read More
Leadership & Growth

CG Startups: How to Keep Costs Low While Scaling Operations 

Consumer Goods Startups: How to Keep Costs Low While Scaling Operations  Scaling a consumer goods startup requires a careful balancing...

Read More
Press Releases

Escalon Expands Its Reach: Full Stack Finance and Early Growth Join Forces with Industry Leader 

Escalon Expands Its Reach: Full Stack Finance and Early Growth Join Forces with Industry Leader  In a strategic move that...

Read More
Taxes

Delaware Annual Review: What Series A-C Startups Must Know to Stay Compliant 

Delaware Annual Review: What Series A-C Startups Must Know to Stay Compliant  For startups incorporated in Delaware, staying compliant is...

Read More
Taxes

Tax Planning for Startups: Preparing for Your First Tax Filing

Tax Planning for Startups: Preparing for Your First Tax Filing as a Growing Business  For many startups, the first major...

Read More
Taxes

Unlock Tax Savings with the R&D Tax Credit

As a startup, managing cash flow and minimizing expenses are critical to your business's survival and growth. One often-overlooked opportunity...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

1099 Compliance for Early Stage Startups

1099 Compliance for Early Stage Startups As your startup grows from seed funding to Series A, B, or C, you’ll...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Meet the Experts at Escalon: Ankush Sharma

Welcome to our new series, Meet the Escalon Experts, where we introduce you to industry leaders shaping your business’s future....

Read More