21 Ways Dumb Leaders Drain Everyone’s Energy
Sometimes success is about what you don’t do.
21 ways a leader drains everyone’s energy:
- Laugh with the inner circle. Frown with the fringe.
- Pound your own chest. Complain about others.
- Spring new things on the unsuspecting.
- Avoid the front-line. Stand aloof.
- Ask, but plug your ears.
- Blab on and on.
- Keep your hands clean. Never get dirty helping.
- Close your heart when saying tough things. A tear in the eye is more powerful than arrogance on the brow.
- Make small improvements to other people’s ideas.
- Maximize the trappings of power. Intimidation invites resistance.
- Raise the bar for others. Lower it for yourself.
- Expect others to grow. Exempt yourself from leadership development.
- Wield authority rather than earn influence.
- Complain about everything.
- Meddle. Expect people to do things your way.
- Withhold affirmation.
- Set expectations from on high.
- Say, “I said so.”
- Hide behind policy.
- Justify yourself.
- Walk around with your head down, wearing a serious look.
3 strategies to fuel energy:
#1. Show the results and impact of work:
During a coaching call, a leader in manufacturing wondered how he might connect their product with purpose. One idea is to bring pictures/videos of their installed products back to the team.
Have the sales team bring cell phone or iPad pictures/videos of installed product back to the team. Spontaneously huddle up to view images/videos. This is a great bragging moment.
Show the images/videos to people in the front office as well as people on the front-line.
#2. Ask people to tell their story.
- How did they get interested in their career?
- Who has had influence on them? How?
- Share a favorite childhood memory?
#3. Set a high goal. Design a plan with the team. Work with the team to reach it.
Mediocrity drains people. It’s hard to get excited about something that doesn’t matter.
How do leaders drain the team’s energy?
How might leaders fuel the team’s energy?
Video associated with this post: http://bit.ly/2gOJEwy (1:55)
Happy Friday Dan! This is good stuff and gets me excited about being a leader early in the morning. Love the sharing a childhood memory, plan to use this one at my next meeting. The hiding behind policy is a downer, I really don’t care for this cowardly move. It’s utilized way too often.
Happy Friday Yani. I hadn’t thought about childhood memories as a meeting activity. Sound fun! Great way for people to connect.
Great list. #9 – Make small improvements to other peoples’ ideas – struck a cord with me. I used to do that on occassion, either thinking I was being helpful or as part of a control issue. But my 18 Month Self is a much better leader and colleague, in great measure due to your blog Dan – great insights, daily reminders, excellent recommendations (Gallop Strength Finder, books, articles, videos). Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks Jackie. #9 is a tough one for leaders. It takes a while to realize that the small improvements we make to someone’s great idea drain energy their energy. It’s usually better to cheer them on. They will improve their own idea during the implementation stage.
When we improve other people’s ideas we steal ownership.
When we improve other people’s ideas we make them less responsible.
Mediocrity drains people. It’s hard to get excited about something that doesn’t matter.
Yes, I agree. Setting the goal so low is even worse than setting the goal so high. Nice post Dan.
Thanks Eric. The leader I mentioned in the post has a manager who is great at setting high goals, working on a plan WITH the team, and then going crazy to meet those goals. The team loves it. It feels great to reach high.
I suppose this could be viewed as manipulation. It’s all about the heart of the leader.
Dan, Leaders that don’t listen and do things their way instead of the teams way!
As you mention often working “with the team” should be ones true intentions!
Whats the sense of a team approach when only 1 rules.
It’s just so “logical” to do things MY way. 🙂
Glad you jumped in today, Tim.
I really appreciated this advice. I went through the list and asked myself, “Do I do this?”. There were a couple that I wasn’t even aware of doing without introspection. Thanks for helping leaders to be the best version of themselves.
This is great Dan! I have seen many of these done and I am sure I have done them myself. These definitely to drain a teams enthusiasm. Why would anyone want to follow a “leader” that does many of these things? This list is a good check for leaders. Sometimes you need to take a step back and evaluate yourself. There are times where you can get into a routine of doing things without even realizing it. Think before you act! It will have an impact on others!
Only 21 ways Dan. Geez, I would have expected at least 100. LOL
Good piece with a lot of good reminders. Glad I’m not in this rat race any more.
Time for you to come and visit in Scottsdale. Weather has finally changed and is cool. AHHHH!!
Have a great and relaxing weekend,
Jim
Thank you Dan for this post. This list is a wealth of wisdom if leaders just open their minds and resolve to become more transparent in their daily work. I wish I could share this with my leader.
5 and 6…BOOM!
boy- I wish i could tactfully share this list with a few former bosses, But they might not get the hint. The good bosses were right on target – not doing these. My past teams have said I’ve been one of their best but I can see I mess up on # 9 too. I may make up for it on my team meetings though by starting with a tickler where I ask each person a question for the day. These can be really fun and interesting and a great way to learn about your team- even the introverted ones. Two recent questions were: Are you a rock or a fish when it comes to swimming?, Are you a neat freak or a slob? These can really get the team talking…
love your blog!
one of the biggest drains on energy is working for agency/leaders that constantly throws out “if this is not done, it will result in an occurrence” after 3 occurrence’s termination