The people you serve evaluate you like a person buying bread. Do you pass the “squeeze test?”
Ever have a bad boss who didn’t realize how bad they were? What if complaints about you are partially right? Experience suggests you may not realize you are a stale, lousy leader.
Really lousy leaders don’t know how lousy they are.
Lousy leaders:
- Walk around with their nose in the air and their hands in their pockets.
- Don’t show-up until something goes wrong.
- Think problems are somebody else’s.
- Blab on and on.
- Keep others on the hook but, let themselves off.
- Blow up when their ideas are questioned or challenged.
- Hide behind policy and procedure. “My hands are tied.”
- Don’t have time for the “little” people.
- Have unrealistic expectations. Say, “Just do it.”
- Instigate office drama by over-reacting.
- Don’t give useful feedback.
- Minimize and ignore criticism.
- Change mid-stream.
13 qualities of leaders we admire:
- Always seek the highest good. “Do no harm,” is only half the equation, the other is, “aggressively do good.” (Every admirable quality springs from this one.)
- Hire for strengths but don’t evaluate on weaknesses.
- Display confidence without arrogance by staying connected.
- Challenge people to be better while acknowledging their progress. We admire those who make us better.
- Define “better” together.
- Expose their humanity. You don’t have to do everything well. Just don’t pretend you can.
- Engage others early, deeply, and frequently.
- Thank those who challenge ideas.
- Make unpopular decisions in the open.
- Maintain can-do attitudes while acknowledging challenges and problems.
- Solve problems rather than create them.
- Provide support, encouragement, and feedback that enhances performance. (Lots of it)
- Maintain focus on what matters most. People matter most. (Including their feelings.) It is personal.
Bonus: Know they’re on both lists.
What positive qualities are most important? Most damaging?
What positive behaviors do you aspire to?