Leaders Who Create More Problems Than They Solve

Identify five damaging leadership styles and learn how to resolve them.

Reviewed by Margaret Foley

Key points

• There are five common types of leaders who tend to approach challenges in a dysfunctional manner.
• It's important to develop awareness of potentially damaging patterns of leadership.
• Leaders can take steps to correct these poor leadership styles.

I spoke to the employees at a company that has a glowing reputation. As I explained how problem-solving is the quickest way to earn influence in an organization, it sparked a heated conversation that led to a personal epiphany for me.

While problem-solving is a fast way to deepen one’s influence on a team, it depends on how one goes about addressing the problem. I have identified five common problems that leaders create when facing challenges in a dysfunctional manner. Do you recognize any?

Five Problems Leaders Create When Solving Problems

1. Knee-Jerk Leaders

I’ve done this a few times in my career. It occurs when a leader becomes aware of a problem later than their team knows of it, and they feel behind, like something’s been going on behind their back. In reaction, they pull the trigger on a decision far too quickly, before getting helpful information on the parties involved. They feel they see the big picture more than others can. While acting on their gut can be helpful, they don’t see the collateral damage they do to the psychological safety of their team members. It’s a trade-off that may not pay off. A solution? It’s often best to wait a day, gather information, and sleep on it before choosing a response.

2. Eggshell Leaders

We all know the term “walking on eggshells.” These leaders find it challenging to make tough decisions because they’re afraid of offending someone; they worry too much about politics, personalities, and the perception others have of them. They can be people pleasers who tiptoe around problems or make decisions that aren’t good long-term solutions. In fact, they prolong problems, creating a culture of distrust and dissatisfaction among teammates. When leaders tiptoe around problems, it causes staff to tiptoe around, keeping secrets. A solution? You must invite candor from trusted colleagues who will hold you accountable to make tough calls.

3. Face-Saving Leaders

This is a term from leadership expert Dan Rockwell. Face-saving leaders care more about appearances than results and often hide problems from higher-ups, minimize problems, or seize control to cover their reputation. Saving face is very important to them and their status. These people succeed long-term only in dysfunctional organizations. Over time, people stop trusting them and withhold information from them since face-saving leaders do the same. Soon, productivity slows down as knowledge is impeded within departments. A solution? You must face problems, own them, and follow through to a successful resolution. This enables you to deepen trust.

4. M.I.A. Leaders

These leaders claim they don’t want to micromanage, but in reality, they don’t manage at all. They are absent from the process, leaving team members without direction. When they do try to solve problems, they’re often unsure what to do. They procrastinate on taking action for long periods and could be described as “absentee leaders.” People can’t expect them to be in the trenches, fighting battles alongside them; they are missing in action. They put off decisions because they fear making the wrong decision. A solution? Grow some courage to make a tough call. Form a team to help you face the music, and ask for the input you need to make progress.

5. Landmine Leaders

This problem-solving method only adds to the drama that problems already bring with them. It aggravates issues because others don’t know what they’re going to get from this leader. It could be a peaceful exchange or an explosion, like walking around landmines in a field. There is unnecessary drama with this problem-solving approach as this leader keeps bringing up past failures or complaining about mistakes. A solution? Adopt a “make it better” approach, which is one of our core values. Don’t dredge up the past unless it furnishes positive lessons learned and improves employee attitudes, words, actions, and decisions. Calm is usually better than drama.

The greatest enemies of logic are ego and emotion since they both diminish trust. I love the words of Colin Powell: “Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”