Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Profiles in Poor Leadership

Perhaps some of you wize old sages could help me round out my list.

PROFILE OF POOR LEADER:
1) Cannot delegate due to lack of trust of all beneath him.
2) Delegates but then micro-manages.
3) Leads from a mentality of fear:
a) afraid someone is out to get his job
b) afraid of talented people
c) afraid of failure
d) afraid to take full responsibility: needs scapegoats
4) Surronds himself with yes-men, toadies, sycophants.
5) Nit-picks skilled talented people so he can feel like the boss
6) Lost sight of the big picture of mission accomplishment.
7) Fixated on winning petty bickers, petty faults, petty mistakes
8) Never has a word of encouragement; but when he does it is through gritted teeth and in a manner so you know you are being patronized.
9) Keeps talent down, talent is a threat.
10) Steals ideas, steals other's work, sidesteps all blame.
11) Suppresses knowledge, technical data, facts to subordinates to retain power.
12) Due to lack of technical savvy, knowledge etc the poor leader must constantly put on a front; therefore any serious discussion of facts concerning a problem is a threat. So hard questions are not tolerated. Anger instead of cold hard facts.
13) Poor leaders drive away good people. They have the gift of de-motivation. And they think that demotivating people is success!

As a contrast I think of Alexander the Great... courageous leadership from the front. The men followed him into the jaws of hell itself and evidently with a great deal of joyous abandon. Also I think of Bill Gates, his philosophy was; never keep talent down, piss on the old-boy network, talent will be promoted and rewarded no matter what. Seems to have worked!

I'd appreciate any of y'all's insight and replies.

Your list appears to leave women out of the leadership role.

I just retired from a compamy that was once one of the great ones, but now many of the above traits are evident at all levels.
BTW- the two top top positions are now held by women

IMO a good leader leads from the front and by example. A good leader listens to their people, promotes the ideas of others, and gives credit to the source. A good leader realizes responsibility and authority go hand in hand as you can't have one without the other. A great leader is a good leader others will willingly follow, respect, and be loyal to because it is earned.

Can't believe I'm going to write this but here goes...

One of the great leaders I can think of did lead by fear, but the people under him feared disappointing him most. His wrath was to be feared for sure, but he had a way of making people strive to please him. He would readily tell you that he made a point to surround himself with good people. In fact most agree that was the key to his success, and that was bourne in in the successes of his former underlings. BUT, he was never afraid anyone was out for his job, for he'd crush them if that's what they were after...However, he was glad to help you move on to bigger and better things if you deserved it, and proud to see you succeed...though if you faced him head on from across the field he'd take pleasure in wearing your a$$ out too. He was always willing to shoulder the blame but not the praise...that went to those under him and those that played for him. He was adaptable, and resiliant, a great motivator. He would say of he and his staff "If I'm the smartest person in the room, then we got a problem."

Some of you may know I'm writing about Paul "Bear" Bryant.

IMO, Leadership, in and of itself is, a skill whether you're born with it or learn it. Its a special people skill. The mistake made today in so many areas of corporate Amercia is that they are attempting to choose leaders from people who exhibit great technical skills at their jobs. IMO, it's rare that a great technician makes a great leader. It's why I'm so against this trend in college and pro football these days to make head coaches out of Offensive or Defensive Coordinators...they're often technicians. However, Defensive coordinators are more often better HC's because so much of defense involves motivation to be good at it..."want to"...and getting that out of players takes leadership skills. Offensive coordinators are almost purely technicians and tacticians.

This, IMO, applies not only to football, but across the board in many other jobs and positions.

Bear Bryant wasn't a great field general...he was the supreme commander that hired great field generals...Bear had most teams beat in the spring before football season...or at worst on the friday before the game...he merely supervised on saturday and made critical decisions like punt or go for it...other than that his coaches coached the players....he coached the coaches but he didn't micro manage. His "offsrping": Danny Ford, Pat Dye, Jackie Sherrill, Charlie Pell, etc all coached the same way, and not a one of them was known as a great X's and O's coach.

America has lost sight of what a good leader is, and is now picking leaders through the "fair method" of promoting those that "earn it" through being great at some other job, whether they have exhibited leadership skills or not!

.280Rem, when I started reading your description I thought you were describing Atilla the Hun! Several years ago a friend gave me a tape entitled, "Leadership secrets of Atilla the Hun", he made many of the same points you make. Odessa

That was my old boss to the letter which is why I quit a job I really liked. I kept a copy which I hope is alright. PM me if it isn't.

Derby Dude

A big one for me is a leader that follows through on commitments, especially when dealing with direct reports. I dont want to hear the right things, I want to see and feel the right things.

Certainly no problem Mr Derby Dude.

Hey y'all thanks for the replies.

An excellent post that rings very true.

I would add that generally speaking: leaders are nor "born", rather they at some point choose to lead and then are forged over time through trial and pressure to become effective. Those that have the desire, the strength, and the ability - will ultimately succeed. Those that don't will not.

Poor leaders also tend to stick with one 'leadership' style. One must adjust to the persons in their charge. A style that works with one might not work with the other. Akin to teaching, one must constantly assess and adjust accordingly.

Find the strengths in a person and nurture them.

Leaders should be teachers, it is my job to ensure I am creating a work force that can take my job.

That would be refreshing! Are ya'll hiring?

Amen!

Now back to work-----------and quit thinking outside the box!

I dislike folks that micro-manage and believe knowledge is power. Everyone at work can be replaced, as it should be.

I have 15 people in my charge, but they aren't there for me, I'm there for them. I must ensure they got what they need to do the work (time, tools, training, etc) and to keep the BS from above away from them.

One should never lead from fear and indecision is a NASTY disease.

Good for you! Lead by example and from the front!

<sigh>....Amen....please, convince the others to follow. Hate to dog my own gender....but women can be hard to work for. There is this paranoia that keeps them from embracing someone that can walk the talk and do a superior job, sometimes better than them... Wait, I take that back....there are men that seek santuary in the same dance...ppl are ppl.

Time to figure something out for dinner and get ready for the weak(EDA...I meant week...lol....brain fart)....ugh.

HoundGirl

On the flip-side, we're hiring, name your price!!!!!!!!!

Leadership is easy, just remember how you would like to have been treated, keep it fun, discipline quickly but reward even quicker, and LIVE IT!

Okay....now you got ME wanting a job...

Do I have to get on a boat???

Seriously, cool stuff to manage by...and I'd bet your boyz are happy to have you in charge....

HoundGirl

Have seen some make it seem nearly impossible....