To be an effective leader, you don’t need to have a specific personality type or set of skills. Effective leaders come from many different backgrounds and life experiences. The one thing that good leaders do have in common is that they avoid these ten common characteristics of toxic leaders.

Being a leader is hard, but it’s even harder to avoid being seen as a toxic leader. To be a good leader, avoid these ten characteristics like the plague. People will be much more likely to follow you and respect you if you are a leader who is confident, honest, and has good communication skills.

Followers of toxic leaders often end up feeling disappointed, unfulfilled, and even resentful. If you want to avoid being a toxic leader, focus on cutting out your negative, self-serving traits and creating habits around empowering and developing your team.

1. Wishy-washy

When you’re a leader, people look to you for guidance and direction. If you can’t decide what you want, it will be very difficult for people to follow you. Even worse than not choosing a direction is changing your direction depending on who you are speaking to.

What to do instead:

People expect leaders to have integrity, strength and be decisive. If you find it hard to make decisions, try following these steps:

1. Get clear on your values. What is important to you? What do you stand for? Once you know your values, making decisions that align with them will be easier.
2. Get all the information you can before making a decision. Once you have all the facts, making the best decision for everyone involved will be easier.
3. Trust your gut. If you have done your research and thought about your values, then chances are your gut will tell you what the right decision is.

2. Know-it-all

Nobody likes a know-it-all, especially when that person is a leader. This type of person is usually more concerned with being right than actually getting things done. And, even worse, doesn’t see the need to keep learning and improving.

What to do instead:

Real leaders believe in continual learning so they can keep improving. They also hire people they think are smarter than them in different areas. Diverse teams with a variety of expertise and backgrounds often create the best solutions. Groupthink sucks, read Orwell’s 1984 if you don’t believe me.

In order to create an environment where everyone can contribute their best ideas, it’s important to encourage open communication. Leaders should ask for input and welcome dissenting opinions. It’s also important to give credit where it’s due and not take all the credit yourself when things go right.

3. Make decisions based on your ego

You’ll come across as selfish if you’re constantly making decisions based on what will make you look good rather than what’s best for the team. Leaders driven by ego might take credit for other people’s work (you know who you are), or make risky decisions that could potentially backfire just to prove that they are in charge.

What to do instead:

The best leaders are humble and put the needs of their team above their own. When making a decision, always ask yourself “what’s best for the team?” Not “what will make me look good?” or “what’s the easy way out?”

4. Manipulative

Manipulative leaders are often skilled at getting people to do what they want. However, this type of manipulation is usually based on fear and intimidation, rather than respect and trust. Over time, people will catch on to your manipulative tactics and lose respect for you as a leader.

What to do instead:

The best leaders are able to get people to do what they want by inspiring them and making them feel like they are part of something bigger. When you’re trying to get someone to do something, ask yourself “how can I make this person feel good about doing this?” rather than “how can I make this person do what I want?”.

5. Micromanage

Micromanagers are the worst. They are always looking over people’s shoulders, second-guessing their decisions, and making everyone’s life a living hell. If you’re a micromanager, chances are your team is constantly feeling stressed out and overworked.

What to do instead:

The best leaders know that they can’t do everything themselves and that they need to delegate tasks to their team members. When you delegate, make sure you give clear instructions and trust that the person will do the job to the best of their ability. Also, resist the urge to check in all the time and give people the space to work.

6. Play favorites

Nobody likes a leader who plays favorites. This type of leader is usually more concerned with personal gain than leading their team. If you play favorites, chances are you’re not being fair to everyone on your team, and you’re creating an environment of resentment.

What to do instead:

The best leaders are able to treat everyone on their team equally. They know that every member of their team is important and they make sure that everyone feels valued. When making decisions, ask yourself “is this the fair thing to do?” rather than “what’s in it for me?”

7. Arrogant

Arrogance is a major turn-off, both in leaders and in general. People who are arrogant tend to think they know everything and are often unwilling to listen to other people’s opinions. This behavior will only alienate your team and make them less likely to respect you as a leader.

What to do instead:

The best leaders are humble and always willing to learn from others. When you’re interacting with your team, resist the urge to be the one who always has to be right. Instead, ask questions and listen to what others have to say. You might be surprised by how much you can learn from them.

8. Passive-Aggressive

Passive-aggressive bosses are the most awful kind. They tend to avoid conflict and often communicate indirectly, through backhanded compliments or veiled criticisms. This behavior makes it difficult for people to trust or respect you as a leader.

What to do instead:

The best leaders are direct and honest with their team. When you have something to say, say it directly. Don’t try to be subtle or indirect – it will only confuse and frustrate your team.

9. Liar

Lying is never a good quality in a leader. If you’re constantly lying to your team, chances are they will catch on and lose respect for you. Not to mention, it’s just plain wrong.

What to do instead:

The best leaders are honest and transparent with their teams. When you make a mistake, own up to it. Your team will respect you more for your honesty than your ability to spin a story.

10. Bad Communicator

If you’re a bad communicator, chances are your team is constantly in the dark about what’s going on. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and a general feeling of being out of the loop.

What to do instead:

The best leaders are clear and concise when they communicate with their team. They make sure that everyone is on the same page and they are always available to answer questions. When you’re communicating with your team, always ask yourself “how can I make this clear?” rather than “how can I make this sound good?”

These are just a few of the things that I hate about toxic leaders. If you’re a leader, ensure you’re not guilty of these behaviors. And if you’re not a leader, make sure you avoid working for one!