The relationship between leaders and their teams can make or break organizational success. A groundbreaking study from Harvard Business Review reveals a sobering reality: 57% of employees quit specifically because of their direct supervisor, while another 32% are actively job hunting due to leadership clashes. The message is clear – when leadership styles misalign with team needs, the cost isn’t just talent loss; it’s the erosion of organizational potential.
Having coached leaders through countless transformations at some of the world’s most influential companies, I’ve watched talented teams crumble under misaligned leadership – and I’ve helped rebuild them. The silver lining? The warning signs of leadership disconnect are there to see long before your A-players think of leaving. Here are the critical red flags that could be signaling it’s time to reshape your leadership approach.
The Silent Treatment
Your team meetings feel like a monologue rather than a dialogue. When questions are met with blank stares or hesitant nods, it’s a clear sign your team has checked out. High-performing teams thrive on open communication and psychological safety. If your team’s gone quiet, they’re likely speaking volumes about your leadership style through their silence.
The Revolving Door Effect
If your department has become a training ground for other companies, pay attention. When top performers consistently leave for “better opportunities,” they’re often really leaving a leadership style that’s stifling their growth. High turnover in your star players is nature’s way of telling you it’s time to reassess your approach.
The Energy Vampire
Team energy plummets when you enter the room. If casual conversations stop, shoulders tense up, or people find sudden reasons to be elsewhere, you’re likely creating an environment of fear rather than innovation. Great leaders energize their teams; they don’t drain them.
The Innovation Desert
Remember when your team used to bubble with ideas and solutions? If those creative suggestions have dried up, your leadership style might be squashing innovation. Teams that feel micromanaged or criticized stop taking risks and start playing it safe – the death knell for workplace innovation.
The Feedback Void
If the only feedback you’re getting is “everything’s fine” or worse, no feedback at all, red alert. Teams that feel unsafe giving honest feedback create an echo chamber where leaders remain blissfully unaware of their impact until it’s too late.
Your leadership style isn’t set in stone – it’s a choice you make every day. Choose to be the leader who amplifies talent rather than diminishes it, who builds bridges rather than barriers, and who inspires growth rather than guards the status quo.
Lead from Within: Your leadership style shapes tomorrow’s success – ignite your team’s potential or watch them find another leader who will.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- You Are the Message Make It Meaningful
- Overcome These Obstacles and Build an Effective Team
- Voice Your Values to be a Better Leader
- 7 Ways to Keep Your Team Happy and Motivated
- This is How Successful Leaders Build Great Teams That Last
- 10 Ways to Make Your Team Feel Appreciated and Important
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.