
Bad Leadership is a Formula for Disaster
Bad Leadership is a Formula for Disaster
CEO of Havas Formula tackles the good, bad and the ugly components of leadership in an excerpt from AdAge.
"Leaders look at the big picture and don’t get embroiled in pettiness"
The Good
Confident: Great leadership is derived from a can-do attitude. Subordinates thrive on positive energy and want a leader who keeps a cool head. As Warren Buffett said, “The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.”
Transparent: Team members want the information they need to be successful. When leaders are transparent, the team feels empowered, engaged and prepared to face any hurdle. When left in the dark, they feel unprepared when facing adversity.
Mature: Leaders look at the big picture and don’t get embroiled in pettiness. Being moody makes it uncomfortable for subordinates, who walk on eggshells because they’re not sure which boss they will encounter. Confident leaders maintain an even keel and instill the same stability in employees.
The Bad
Controlling: Some micromanaging leaders make all the decisions—a formula for disaster. Good leaders empower teams with responsibility and authority to make decisions.
Egotistic: Simply being in the corner office does not mean a leader is right. Teams reporting to such a leader might withhold opinions, worried that disagreements will make them look foolish. Humility allows leaders to build stronger relationships within
an organization.
Demoralizing: If a leader wants the team to arrive early and stay late, but doesn’t demonstrate the same commitment, it will be hard to set that as an expectation. Employees want to go to battle every day for leaders who are all-in and equally committed to the goals and aspirations of the organization.
"Leaders look at the big picture and don’t get embroiled in pettiness"
The Good
Confident: Great leadership is derived from a can-do attitude. Subordinates thrive on positive energy and want a leader who keeps a cool head. As Warren Buffett said, “The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.”
Transparent: Team members want the information they need to be successful. When leaders are transparent, the team feels empowered, engaged and prepared to face any hurdle. When left in the dark, they feel unprepared when facing adversity.
Mature: Leaders look at the big picture and don’t get embroiled in pettiness. Being moody makes it uncomfortable for subordinates, who walk on eggshells because they’re not sure which boss they will encounter. Confident leaders maintain an even keel and instill the same stability in employees.
The Bad
Controlling: Some micromanaging leaders make all the decisions—a formula for disaster. Good leaders empower teams with responsibility and authority to make decisions.
Egotistic: Simply being in the corner office does not mean a leader is right. Teams reporting to such a leader might withhold opinions, worried that disagreements will make them look foolish. Humility allows leaders to build stronger relationships within
an organization.
Demoralizing: If a leader wants the team to arrive early and stay late, but doesn’t demonstrate the same commitment, it will be hard to set that as an expectation. Employees want to go to battle every day for leaders who are all-in and equally committed to the goals and aspirations of the organization.