The
non-leader
In the
two previous lessons, we listed the qualities that all leaders should
possess. On the other hand, there are certain characteristics that
characterize a non-leader.
We are
going to point out a few of the most relevant ones:
Haughty:
they believe they know best: they don’t listen, they don’t
ask for advice, they don’t accept other points of view, they
don’t know how to admit to their mistakes and they don’t
recognize their own limitations. All this, can make them make big
mistakes that can jeopardize the future of the company. Besides, behaving
this way will cause rejection amongst the employees.
Unreliable:
he promises and does not fulfil, his team makes an effort waiting
to achieve the promised reward and it never comes. He looses all credibility.
The team
looses their faith in him and they are no longer prepared to continue
making additional effort.
Frightful:
he is a person that feels insecure, which makes him extremely jealous.
He is scared that someone might put him in the shade and this makes
him surround himself with mediocre people.
He has
many complexes, he fears showing weakness which is why he rejects
advice and doesn’t listen and he doesn’t allow the people
in his team to shine through.
This type
of executive ends up being despised by his team.
Lifeless:
a lifeless leader is going to find it very difficult to generate enthusiasm
into his team. If the leader lacks energy, optimism, a push, he is
not going to be able to motivate his employees.
He avoids
risk: the leader
should fight for his objectives, some difficult goals; this obliges
him to walk in unknown territory, to assume risks.
A person
that avoids risks at all cost is a conformist who is happy with what
they have and who is going to find it hard to drive the company in
any direction.
In a world
which is always changing, like the one we live in, not moving is a
synonym of loosing.
Dishonest:
when the Director lacks solid ethical principles it is not unusual
for him to be unjust.
The group
is not going to follow a person they don’t trust; they will
end up despising him.
Lack of
vision: the leader
gets support from the organization by offering them a really stimulating
project: the leader sells illusions.
If the
boss doesn’t have a project, what is he going to offer his team?
Continuity? Anyone can do this.
Besides,
as we have already pointed out, continuity nowadays is the quickest
way towards extinction.
Selfish:
a person whose main worry (and sometimes only one) are his own interests
will find it difficult to get support from his team.
The employees
will immediately realise the risk that they are running trusting their
fate to this person.
Enlightened:
the leader is a person that thinks about the future, but always keeps
his feet on the ground and is always realistic.
If the
leader’s objectives are extremely utopian, people will begin
to distrust him. A job position is something serious and staff are
not going to embark on adventures with an uncertain end.
An enlightened
person can put the future of his company at risk.
Authoritarian:
a boss that bases his management on fear can sometimes achieve good
results in the short term, but he will end up harming the organization.
The members
of his team will take any opportunity to change jobs. Nobody puts
up with a tyrant.
The atmosphere
that he generates is very tense, people will act without initiative,
they will go to work unenthused, and they will not give their best.
