As a leader, you want your team to thrive. You want them to be blessed, productive, successful, and fulfilled. But sometimes, the opposite happens. Poor leadership can turn a promising environment into a toxic one, impacting everyone involved.

A recent story from the February 18, 2024, edition of Morning Brew illustrates this point in an unforgettable way.

Maggots on a Plane: A Leadership Lesson

A Delta Airlines international flight was en route from Amsterdam to Detroit. For two hours, everything seemed normal. Passengers were enjoying their snacks and drinks, immersed in movies, books, or naps. Then, the unthinkable happened.

Maggots started falling from an overhead bin onto passengers!

Yes, you read that correctly. Maggots—on the plane. It turns out that a certain passenger had packed rotten fish (and their maggot companions) in their carry-on luggage. This careless decision forced the plane to turn around and return to Amsterdam, inconveniencing hundreds of travelers.

One person’s poor judgment disrupted the entire flight, leaving a lasting impact on everyone.

The Leadership Parallel

Leadership is no different. A leader’s poor decisions can have a maggot-like effect—spreading dysfunction, creating chaos, and ultimately forcing the team to backtrack.

If you’re working under a bad leader, you may already feel those “leadership maggots” falling on you. The question is: How do you know if you’re serving under a bad leader?

Here are 12 warning signs to watch for:

12 Signs You’re Serving Under a Bad Leader

1. A Bad Leader Has Continual Failure

Every leader makes mistakes, but bad leaders don’t learn from them. They repeat the same missteps, dragging the organization down with them.

2. A Bad Leader Continually Misses Opportunities

There’s a difference between sensing opportunity and seizing it. Bad leaders fail to recognize golden opportunities—or worse, they hesitate until it’s too late.

3. A Bad Leader Makes Bad Hires (Repeatedly)

Bad leaders struggle to identify top talent and often hire people who are not fit for their roles. Even worse, they fail to retain the right people when they do find them.

4. A Bad Leader Lacks Support from Key People

They alienate key influencers and decision-makers. Instead of building alliances, they create resistance and division.

5. A Bad Leader’s Organization Has a Revolving Door

Employee turnover is high. Good people don’t stick around, and the company is in a constant state of transition.

6. A Bad Leader Fails to Execute

Grand ideas are worthless without follow-through. Under bad leadership, initiatives never materialize—they remain stuck in endless discussions and planning.

7. A Bad Leader Mismanages Finances

Bad leaders often lack financial discipline, making poor investments or wasting resources that could be used more effectively.

8. A Bad Leader Is a Public Embarrassment

You never know what they’re going to say—to a client, in a meeting, or to the press. Their lack of awareness puts the organization at risk.

9. A Bad Leader Struggles to Recruit Top Talent

Talented individuals recognize a toxic work culture and avoid it. Quality leaders don’t leave stable environments for dysfunctional ones.

10. A Bad Leader Ignores Good Advice

They lack the humility to learn from others. Instead of welcoming wise counsel, they reject it, leading to avoidable mistakes.

11. A Bad Leader Creates Negative Momentum

Nothing seems to go right. The team is constantly putting out fires instead of making progress. The energy is always reactive, never proactive.

12. A Bad Leader Lacks Options for the Future

A strong leader creates solutions. A bad leader runs out of options, leaving the organization without a clear path forward.

How to Protect Yourself from Bad Leadership

If you recognize these signs in your workplace, take action:

✅ Document your concerns. Keep track of patterns and recurring issues.
✅ Set personal boundaries. Don’t let toxic leadership drain you emotionally.
✅ Seek mentorship from good leaders. Learn from those who have strong leadership qualities.
✅ Consider your future. If leadership isn’t improving, it might be time to explore new opportunities.

Bonus: Leadership Red Flags Checklist

To help you assess your current leadership situation, download the one-page checklist that summarizes these 12 signs. It can serve as a quick reference for identifying toxic leadership traits.

Final Thought

Great leadership empowers and uplifts. Bad leadership stifles and harms. If you find yourself under poor leadership, don’t ignore the signs. Protect your career, well-being, and future before the maggots start falling on you.