As an executive leadership coach who works with leaders around the world, I often hear leaders asking their employees a wide range of questions on a regular basis. However, some of these questions can be inappropriate or harmful to the work environment. To help leaders create a positive and supportive work environment for their teams, and establish healthy boundaries, I have compiled a list of questions that leaders should never ask of their employees.
Here are the top twelve questions:
Don’t ask employees to lie for the company: Lying is never acceptable, and asking your employees to do so can damage their trust in you and the company.
Don’t ask employees to reveal personal information: Your employees have the right to privacy, and it’s important to respect that.
Don’t ask employees to continuously work long hours: It’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and asking employees to work excessively long hours can lead to burnout and decreased productivity.
Don’t ask employees to donate money: It’s not appropriate to ask employees to financially contribute to the company or to charitable causes.
Don’t ask employees to compromise their values or beliefs: It’s important to respect and value diversity within the workplace, and it’s not appropriate to ask employees to go against their personal values or beliefs.
Don’t ask your employees, “Can we speak later?” If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, it can create anxiety and stress for your employees.
Don’t ask employees to cover up or ignore unethical or illegal behavior: It’s important to maintain a culture of integrity and transparency within the workplace, and asking employees to cover up or ignore unethical or illegal behavior can damage trust and lead to serious consequences.
Don’t ask employees to evaluate their coworkers: It’s important to maintain a positive and supportive work environment, and asking employees to evaluate their coworkers can create tension and conflict.
Don’t ask employees to attend optional events: While it’s important to foster a sense of community within the workplace, it’s not fair to pressure employees to attend events that are not mandatory.
Don’t ask employees to do work without proper compensation or recognition: It’s important to fairly compensate and recognize employees for the work they do, and asking them to take on additional tasks without proper compensation or recognition can lead to resentment and a lack of motivation.
Don’t ask employees to come into work on weekends: Unless it’s absolutely necessary, it’s important to give employees time off on the weekends to rest and recharge.
Don’t ask employees to do tasks outside of their skillset without proper support: It’s important to give employees the tools and resources they need to succeed in their role.
In summary, as a leader, it’s important to treat your employees with respect and consideration. By avoiding these twelve questions you can create a positive and supportive work environment for your team.
Lead From Within: Never ask anyone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. As a leader, lead by example.
#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:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
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.