Great leaders always defend their team. They take the blame and pass on the praise. Leaders who don't, lose the trust of their team, While demotivating them and killing morale. Unfortunately, this happens far too often. I've seen bad leaders who: 🫵 Refuse to take responsibility for poor decisions. 🗣️ Micromanage, and then criticise mistakes. ❌ Avoid accountability at all costs. If a team doesn't feel supported... They become averse to risk and lose faith in leadership. The best leaders stand up for their team, And defend them against toxic behaviour. That includes protecting them against their own bad habits: ✅ Saying “yes” to everything. ⚖️ Ignoring work-life balance. 💪 Overworking till breaking point. 👥 Allowing team members to be bullied. 📈 Neglecting their growth and development. Successful leaders know when to get involved, And when to take a step back and give the team space. They notice when their people need extra support, And celebrate their wins when they're earned. Leading by example like this creates the next generation of managers! Have you had an outstanding manager? Show appreciation and tag them in the comments below! ⬇️ ♻️ Repost this if you found it helpful. And follow Chris Donnelly for more. | 929 comments on LinkedIn