Five Things Good Leaders Never Say

 
As children we are often told to think before we speak. We are trained by our parents and teachers to self-filter our words which, at times, can be brutally honest.
But let’s face it, even as adults, sometimes things we didn’t mean to say just slip out. Unfortunately we no longer have the excuse of innocence or ignorance on our side to get us out of a sticky situation.
As a manger or team leader, the harm of saying an off-the-wall comment is compounded because people are looking to you as an example and an inspiration.
The most affective leaders are often the ones who know the right thing to say at the right time, but equally, know when to keep their mouth shut. The spoken word carries with it a lot of power affecting the hearts of minds of those around you – more than you may realise.
Comments that are demanding or demoralising have a detrimental impact on employees. Therefore it pays to think twice before you speak and if you’re not 100 percent sure how a comment will be received, you’re better off not saying it.
Here are five damaging phrases that shouldn’t pass through your lips as a leader:
“I’ll do it myself”
By taking a job off a staff member and doing it yourself implies that they’re not up to the task and they’re not good enough. This sucks them of their self-worth, confidence and forces them to doubt their own abilities.
In the short term it may seem like doing a job yourself is quicker and easier, but in the long term you are setting your business up for failure. Focus on putting the right people in the right places and enable them to succeed.
“It’s not up for debate/discussion”
Is your workplace a dictatorship or a democracy?
By declaring that an issue is not up for discussion and your decision is final, you risk alienating your staff and creating a dictatorship environment.
Unwillingness to hear out people’s ideas gives the impression that their thoughts aren’t valued within the company. Plus, by refusing to listen to their opinions, you miss out on potentially valuable ideas you may not have thought of yourself.
“I’m the boss”
Of course you’re the boss, but saying so doesn’t make it so. By stating “I’m the boss” it instantly puts up a barrier between you and your staff, making it clear you view yourself as superior or separate. This can cause real damage to any collaborative team culture environment.
“Don’t bring me any bad news”
Ignorance may be bliss, but it sure isn’t going to solve any problems and it’s certainly not going to make them go away. By remaining wilfully ignorant to the problems in your business, it burdens your staff with the bad news and fills them with unnecessary worry.
Hiding a problem will only make it get worse, so make a 180 degree turn on this comment by saying “If there’s any bad news, I want to be the first to know”. Great leaders want to know about issues that need immediate attention so they can be addressed.
“That’s not my fault.”
A leader who spreads the blame or throws others under the bus also fails to accept that he or she is ultimately the one in charge. The best leaders don’t just take responsibility for their own actions, but also the actions of their team. Their willingness to absorb the hit and accept personal accountability, rather than shifting the blame, especially during tough times, ultimately wins over the employees.
By Laura Baker