Break these 3 bad boss habits and be a better leader

Leaders who seek out feedback, are curious about more than just their own industry and take time for reflection and self-evaluation can avoid burnout as well as the temptation to embody bad practices such as protecting their own power or seeking to control those around them, writes Graham Ward, an adjunct professor at INSEAD. "The true job of a leader is to deal with the big thorny issues, often strategic in nature, that demand not just the leader's attention but also the collective effort of the group," Ward notes.

Put it into practice: When you're stuck in a "bad boss" mindset of a controller, a complier or a self-protector, you're no longer leading, but simply managing, Ward writes. "For leaders, 2024 should be the year to lean into a newfound leadership capability for the benefit of themselves and their organizations."

No one likes admitting a mistake, but mature leaders do so promptly -- in a private setting if necessary -- take responsibility, apologize with sincerity and seek solutions or feedback, writes Steve Keating. "Once you've admitted the mistake and discussed a resolution, take the necessary actions to correct the error," Keating suggests.

Put it into practice: Be honest and open about how the mistake happened, seek to learn from the experience and devise ways to avoid similar errors in the future, Keating notes. "Everyone makes mistakes, only the most successful people admit to them quickly and honestly."

Workplace psychological safety, which allows employees to speak up or make mistakes without fear of judgment or consequences, should be encouraged to varying degrees depending on the organization and types of jobs, write the Wharton School's Peter Cappelli and Liat Eldor. "A practical problem for employers that is hard to duck is that supervisors at all levels are constantly being pressed by their leaders to be tougher about job-performance problems and to hold employees accountable for them," write Cappelli and Eldor, who point out some tasks require employees to follow strict rules and avoid mistakes.

Put it into practice: It's still wrong not to provide enough psychological safety to team members, but Cappelli and Eldor suggest tracking some aspects -- such as respecting difference and diversity -- separately from others, depending on the job's duties and tolerance for error. "It may be easier to move the needle on those aspects by tracking them separately as goals to improve."

To get back to a healthful eating routine after the holidays, registered dietitian Jessica Ball focuses on seasonal, nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory and budget-friendly vegetables like cabbage, leafy greens, Brussels sprouts, beets, cauliflower and carrots. "Eating in a way that meets your nutritional goals can be easy, delicious and aligned with your budget, and these vegetables are proof," Ball says.

Nearly 70% of 200 volunteers who listened to recordings of chickens clucking and chirping correctly intuited whether the birds were happy to be receiving a treat or disappointed to find an empty bowl, according to a study in Royal Society Open Science. The findings suggest that animal welfare can be improved through acoustic monitoring, potentially with AI to alert farmers when something is wrong.

Steve Keating's advice on admitting mistakes -- promptly, honestly, privately and with an eye toward reconciliation and restoration -- hit home for me today. Yesterday, I issued my own mea culpa for including an edgier story than usual on 50 things to consider in the New Year.

It's not an exaggeration to say that I love this Leadership community. So many of you wrote to say I had nothing to apologize for and that you found the article funny or at least a welcome break from the regular New Year's advice.

I appreciate everyone who takes a moment out of their day to contact me, whether it's with praise, a suggestion or a complaint. We're a community here, and we should be able to share openly with one another. I'm glad so many of you feel comfortable reaching out to me.

My takeaway is that most of you find it okay for me to push the envelope a little bit from time to time. I try my best daily to keep your needs in mind as I choose and write stories because I care deeply about your progress as a leader. I rely on you all to keep me in line, and so far, I have not been disappointed!

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