Ethical Leaders Care (Part 3)

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 numbs the organization’s culture, disabling the natural systems that would prevent and identify ethical risks.

Avoid these 9 behaviors below that 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 “don’t do” leader 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. After a global pandemic, they expect MUCH more and people are increasingly willing to change jobs to get what they expect. Show those you lead that you really DO care by avoiding these 9 red flag behaviors.