Red flags don’t work. It’s a simple statement, but one that carries profound implications for how we approach risk assessment in business. Throughout my career working with CEOs and leading ...

Every thriving business relies on regular feedback, especially the negative kind. "If you notice a lot of defensiveness, especially early in the relationship, that's a big red flag," Jones said.

Below, Forbes Coaches Council members share 20 leadership red flags that signal when a founder’s mindset may be holding the business back.

In the last decade, the founder has scaled the business to host 2,000-attendee gatherings, sold the company for $22 million, bought it back, brought on a new CEO and built the "Coachella for ...

Getty Images (Teera Konakan) By Andy Medici – Senior Reporter, The Playbook, The Business Journals Jul 21, 2025 Updated Jul 21, 2025 11:12pm EDT Preview this article 1 min ...

Much like a marriage, you can't predict how high pressure will impact and change you both. But there are red flags you can look out for prior to legally binding yourselves together.