Have you ever had a sick child or spouse? You wanted to see them made well, to feel better, to be cured.
Now think about a bad leader you’ve been under. Did you want the same for them?
Image by Nils Geylen
Probably not. I know I haven’t.
Instead of seeing improved leadership, there have been times I’ve wanted bad leaders gone. Out on the streets and out of a leadership position.
Looking back, I’ve come to realize this isn’t the proper attitude to have.
The Right Attitude To Have With Bad Leadership
Let’s be honest. Bad leadership is difficult to deal with. Team members are frustrated. Resources are stretched. You come to a breaking point.
It’s easy to look at the person who’s leading poorly and want them out.
Yet I’m now convinced this is the wrong attitude to have, at least when you first notice the issue. Instead we’ve got to make sure our attitude is right when we’re dealing with bad leadership.
Check your attitude. Make sure you’re approaching this leader with a caring heart and a desire to see the bad leadership traits corrected.
When your heart is in the right place, it’s much easier to confront and deal with the issues at hand.
The Cure For Bad Leadership
Now that your heart is in the right place, you can start dealing with the problem leader.
Begin by looking for a reason for the bad leadership. I’ve found, most of the time, bad leadership stems for a lack of influence. After all, leadership is influence.
So let’s look at how we can cure the lack of influence.
You’ve got to show the leader that he’s struggling because he’s not influencing. Instead, he’s trying to control through power and title.
You know this doesn’t work. I know it doesn’t work. But he most likely doesn’t.
Show him he needs to:
- Be consistent: Inconsistency breeds a lack of trust and, thus, a lack of influence. When you’re consistent, people will know you’re who you say you are and you’ll do what you say.
- Be a listener: When you begin to listen, you begin to gain to hear the issues of the day. You’re then able to act on the problems. When you listen and then act, your tribe will see you really are behind them.
- Be a visionary: With a clear vision or strategy, you’ll know where you’re going and others will know where you’re going. There will be a sense of confidence in the direction you’re going. Teams are influenced by a strong sense of vision. Create a path and people will follow.
Question: What other suggestions do you have to cure bad leadership? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.