Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

4 Management Traps to Avoid at All Costs While every leadership style is different, every boss should steer clear of these negative traits.

By Nina Zipkin

From Michael Scott to Miranda Priestly and even Monty Burns, pop culture is littered with bosses who are fun to watch but who'd be hell to work for. If you want to be a positive, effective leader, you'll want to steer clear of the following four traits at all costs:

1. Complaining. Don't do it. It undermines your efforts, the work of your colleagues and generally erodes trust and company morale.

2. Emotional volatility. Good managers can read a room and know how to respond under pressure. If you let your frustrations get away from you, you won't be able to focus on the problems that most need your attention.

Related: Why Do People Actually Quit Their Jobs? (Infographic)

3. Playing nice. Treat everyone with respect but remember that you can't be everyone's friend, especially when it comes to the tough calls.

4. Micromanaging. When you're in charge, it's easy to feel like if you aren't keeping all the balls in the air, no one will. But as the company grows, you have to trust that the people you hired will do the work you need.

For more tips on how to be an awesome boss, watch the short video above.

Related: 6 Alternatives to Micromanaging Employees

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Models

How to Become an AI-Centric Business (and Why It's Crucial for Long-Term Success)

Learn the essential steps to integrate AI at the core of your operations and stay competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Business News

Kickstarter's CEO Explains Why the Platform Is Changing After 15 Years

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor explains the decision-making behind the changes, how he approaches leading Kickstarter, and his advice for future CEOs.

Marketing

5 Steps to Preparing an Engaging Industry Presentation

You can make a great impression and generate interest with an exciting, informative presentation. Find out my five secrets to creating an industry presentation guaranteed to wow.

Business Solutions

Save on a Lifetime of PDF Management for Memorial Day

Easily convert, edit, and annotate PDFs for work and business with this deal.