9 Ways You’re Driving Your Team Nuts (we know you don’t mean to)
No one wants to burn out their team, but it happens more often than we think. The truth is, many well-intentioned leaders accidentally create inefficiencies that drain their team’s energy. Constant check-ins, unclear delegation, and lack of systemized processes can leave your team overwhelmed and reactive.
Here’s how to stop that cycle.
1. You’re checking in too often
A good leader stays informed, but if your team feels like they need to update you on every little thing, they will spend more time updating you than actually doing their work. Instead, set up focused, 30-45 min check-ins no more than weekly and use a project management tool for updates.
2. You’re the bottleneck
If every decision flows through you, you’re slowing things down. Define clear decision-making authority so your team knows when they can move forward without waiting for approval. If you struggle with this, remember, almost anything can be learned from and fixed.
3. Tasks are unclear
"Can you handle this?" is not an assignment. Every task should have a clear owner, due date, and expected outcome so there’s no confusion.
4. You’re over-relying on email
Inbox overwhelm is real. Shift internal communication to a centralized tool like Asana or ClickUp to keep conversations organized, specific, and actionable.
5. You’re holding too many meetings
Meetings should be used strategically, and should not be the default way to share information. If it can be an email or a Slack update, skip the meeting. When meetings are necessary, send an agenda in advance to keep things on track.
6. You’re giving unclear feedback
Your team can’t read your mind. Instead of vague feedback like "this needs work," be specific: "Can we make this more concise by cutting unnecessary steps?" Give your team an idea of what an ideal end result is and watch them rise to the occasion.
7. You’re not documenting processes
Every time someone asks "How do we do this?" it means there’s no process in place. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) save time and create consistency. It doesn’t have to be long or overly technical, simple bullet points will do.
8. There’s no room for deep work
If your team is always "on", meaning their indicator is always green and they are always checking and responding to every notification, their productivity is suffering. Encourage focus blocks where notifications are silenced so they can get meaningful work done.
9. You’re not celebrating wins
Acknowledge progress. Even small wins keep momentum going and help prevent burnout. Everyone likes to be “seen” for what they have contributed. Find something to celebrate and give your team a complement. Who doesn’t like complements?!
Your team wants to do great work - it’s your job to remove obstacles that get in their way.
Which one of these stood out to you the most?
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