Good Leaders Vs Bad Leaders

Bad Leaders

Unfortunately, far too many bad, hubristic leaders operate in the business world. Consider Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein, who for decades auditioned young female talent on his infamous casting couch. Or, remember United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, whose boorish insensitivity went viral after a “bloodied customer” was dragged off of a United flight. In one week, United lost more than half a billion dollars in market capitalization because of Munoz’s behavior. Then there is former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf, who tried to blame “some 5,300 employees” for gross corporate malfeasance that became public. During a US Senate Banking Committee hearing, one senator called Stumpf “gutless.”

Good Leaders

Good leaders are exemplary, decisive people with discipline, integrity, good judgment and high ideals. They work to improve themselves as leaders – and as human beings. They focus on others, not themselves. Good leaders respect the people around them and work to ensure their success. Nothing in life is guaranteed. Good leaders may do everything right and still fail miserably. Because of their character, they don’t let failure undermine them. They understand that it has a saving grace: It keeps people humble. Good leaders are experts at “ego management.” They are confident, but not arrogant. To stay grounded, they remind themselves that, in the larger scheme of things, they are insignificant.

Reality Checks

Good leaders can turn to these reality checks to remain humble:

• “Ask questions” – You don’t know everything, so don’t pretend you do. Others will appreciate that you know you don’t have all the answers.
• “Show your warts” – No one’s perfect. Your mistakes demonstrate that you’re human, just like everyone else.
• “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you” – As Steve Jobs advised: “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
• “Spend time with people you outrank” – They are closer to the work than you are, and you can learn from them.
• “Open yourself up to feedback” – It’s impossible to gauge your own leadership prowess objectively. Ask for “honest, unfiltered feedback.”
• Give someone “permission to help you check yourself” – Identify a trusted confidant to look out for you when your ego works against you.
• “Say ‘thank you’ sincerely and often” – Being grateful is respectful and polite; being ungrateful is arrogant. “Pick a side” – As a leader, decide if you are there to help others or to help yourself. Choose whether you will “lead or rule.”

Source: The Leadership Killer Reclaiming Humility in an Age of Arrogance Bill Treasurer and John R. Havlik | Little Leaps Press © 2018