Discover the value of a good boss on National Boss Day by reviewing the characteristics of bad bosses.
October 15, 2006
Knoxville, TN -– Corporations desire them. Militaries conquer with them. Everyone wants to a part of them. Who can this possibly be? Good leaders. As Americans watch TV or read the newspaper, they are bombarded with the images of bad leaders.
However, few academic institutions or leadership experts discuss this subject because it is considered taboo. Many businesses are spinning their wheels to discover the newest management fad. Yet, they don’t have a clue that they have some bad managers in their organization. How can organizations continue to have their heads in the sand on this subject?
Do you know bad leadership when you see it? First, leadership is not about being the boss or manipulating people for personal gain. Many individuals want the limelight of leadership; however, they do not want to make the sacrifices to be effective leaders.
Barbara Kellerman, author of Bad Leadership, maintains that the majority of leadership gurus use leadership to imply good leadership and ignore the context of bad leadership. Bad leadership is defined as uncontrolled personal desires (money, power, etc.) instead of seeking the common good. Kellerman notes, “Leaders are generally judged ineffective because of the means they employ (or fail to employ) rather than the ends they pursue.” Bad leadership can be divided in two categories: ineffective and unethical.
A good boss is therefore hard to find. Marlene Chism, a relationship development expert, has worked with several organizations including NASA, and has conducted extensive study on employee productivity. Effective organizations are built on good leadership. Chism maintains, “A good leader understands that relationships must be nurtured in order for productivity to reach the highest potential. Real power comes by walking the talk.” According to Dr. Bruce Winston, author of Be a Leader for God’s Sake, good leaders are accountable to their followers. Organizations should be concerned. It’s their business.
How do you know bad leadership? Daryl and Estraletta Green, authors of More than a Conqueror: Achieving Personal Fulfillment in Government Service, have been studying employees’ attitude changes toward leaders for several years. They have over 20 years of management experience. Daryl explains, “I have seen great managers during my professional career, but few great leaders. Dynamic leadership is difficult to measure for most organizations. However, organizations can’t afford to not have them.”
The Greens suggest the following criteria for determining if you are a bad boss or if you work for a bad boss:
• Taking advantage of employees • Guiding others in an unethical way • Talking down to employees • Failing to communicate to others • Maintaining an uncaring and unsympathetic attitude • Taking actions solely for personal gain
Unfortunately, there’s enough bad leadership to go around. Americans see scandal after scandal by senior executives. Organizations should start using a litmus test to distinguish a good boss from a very bad one. Marlene proclaims, “Employees want a conscious leader. What this means is they want a boss who listens and responds instead of a boss who offers knee-jerk reactions to stressful situations.” Therefore, organizations that understand the merits of good bosses will gain the competitive advantage.
About PMLA Company:
Daryl and Estraletta Green, PMLA owners, have presented workshops across the country and provide advice on making good decisions in life. For more information, visit them at www.darylandestraletta.com.
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