Leaders, Don’t You Care? (9 Red Flags That Tell Employees You Don’t)

By Linda Fisher Thornton

Demonstrating care is one of the hallmark requirements of good leadership. In addition to caring about what happens in our own careers, we must CARE about people, about their success, and about creating a positive work environment. If leaders don’t seem to care, that harms the organization’s culture.

The 9 behaviors below are red flags for employees – pointing out that a leader doesn’t care.

9 Red Flags That Tell Employees You Don’t Care

Being too busy to meet with people
Not showing interest in people or their success
Asking about how someone is doing, then losing interest or becoming distracted when they answer
Breaking promises, not acting on commitments
Telling people you’re sure they’ll figure it out on their own when they come to you for help
Failing to recognize accomplishments and milestones
Asking people to do some of your work, then taking credit for it
Withdrawing during times of change when support is most needed
Making YOUR OWN success more important than THEIRS (missing the point that as a leader, their success is the measure of your own)

All 9 of these choices hurt employees who want to do their best and who want a manager who believes in them. They are behaviors that damage trust, reduce engagement and limit productivity.

The bottom line? Acting like you don’t care might work if you’re leading a team of robots – but people expect more.