Get All Access for $5/mo

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 News

The Most Downloaded News App in the U.S. May Have Published Dozens of Fake, AI-Written Stories

The stories were fake but had real-world consequences for the app's 50 million monthly users.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Business News

She Tracked Her Missing Luggage With an Apple Device — Straight to an Airport Employee's Home

Paola Garcia flew into Terminal 4 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last month when she noticed her luggage never made it to the carousel — then her Apple Watch started pinging.

Growing a Business

3 Non-Financial Factors That Could Impact Your Business' Value

For healthy companies that want to maximize their value, the qualitative indicators can be bundled into three main categories.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.