5 Leadership Traps That Keep Your Team Stuck

Even the most experienced leaders fall into patterns that hold their teams back. If you’ve ever wondered why the same problems keep resurfacing, it may be time to look in the mirror.  Maybe you identify with one of these traps or have seen yourself wavering in and out of all of them at times.  Don’t worry, you are human.  Part of being human is managing imperfection. By recognizing these behaviors, you can start managing or eliminating the tendencies.

1. The Overcomplicator
Complexity feels safe. If an idea is simple, it’s easier to see if it fails. So, some leaders bury clear solutions under layers of processes, meetings, and data. But more complexity rarely creates more progress, it usually just hides problems longer.
Ask yourself: Are you adding steps that don’t truly serve the goal?

2. The Micromanager
Micromanagement masquerades as thoroughness. These leaders want control so badly they end up redoing work, second-guessing decisions, and preventing their teams from owning outcomes. In the end, nothing moves without them and that’s the problem.
Ask yourself: Could you step back and trust your people more?

3. The Elusive Manager
Some leaders disappear when their team needs them most. They’re busy, buried in meetings, or avoid hard conversations. Without clear guidance and support, employees are forced to guess priorities and fend for themselves.
Ask yourself: Do your people know how and when to reach you?

4. The Firefighter
These leaders thrive on chaos. They’re always “saving the day” instead of preventing the fire in the first place. While it feels productive, it creates a reactive culture where teams wait for emergencies to get attention.
Ask yourself: Are you rewarding crisis management over prevention?

 

5. The Ego-Driven Manager
When leaders care more about being right than getting it right, everyone pays the price. Ego-driven managers dismiss feedback, take credit for wins, and blame others for losses. Over time, trust erodes, and people stop speaking up.
Ask yourself: Are you making decisions to serve the mission. Or your image?

Which Trap Do You Fall Into?
Awareness is the first step toward stronger leadership. If you see yourself in any of these patterns, don’t beat yourself up. Just commit to doing better. Small shifts in behavior can lead to big improvements in trust and results.

Chris Ortiz.  Author of the upcoming book, Same Problems, Same Opportunities: Why Leadership Still Matters. Productivity Press. 2026

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