This text is based on an article on the INSEAD Knowledge website.
Reluctance to admit your own mistakes
One common and also very problematic bad habit we see in managers is an unwillingness or inability to admit to their own mistakes. Many team managers feel that by showing they are not infallible, they would lose authority and credibility. In fact, the opposite is the truth: a willingness to admit you were wrong or do not know something shows you in a more human light and allows your entire team to deal with problems and critical situations in a truly effective way.
Micromanagement
For some managers, micromanagement is a standard management style, while for others it may only apply to some specific subordinates. In either case, it is a style that is not only ineffective but also downright frustrating to subordinates, and generally leads to a breakdown in trust between employer and employee.
Inability to tolerate the specifics and uniqueness of individual subordinates
A good manager does not want to mould subordinates in their own image. On the contrary, a manager should tolerate and even develop the unique qualities and strengths of subordinates, even though these may be completely at variance with the way the manager works and thinks. Tolerate and appreciate the specific strengths of your individual subordinates and appreciate the fact their way of thinking is different from your own or that of their colleagues.
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