While scouting through the internet despite my super busy
schedule, I fell upon, or should I say an information fell into my eyes, sent
signals to the brain and I just couldn't skip the page and move on.
You see I have been having issues lately with ***********
(yea I wouldn't like to share that part just yet) and as I saw the information,
all I could think was ‘Someone could also be going through this at this very
elementary time’, so I need to share.
So I share. Bosses can be so demanding, painfully chauvinistic
and unrepentant(ly) egoistic. Yeah, I know all of that too, I work with/for one. So,
if you see these signs in your boss and s/he is unrepentant about it, trust me,
it is time you look for another job.
Here are 10 of them:
"I'm the
boss."
"By announcing this fact, you negate it," says
Price. "As Former Prime Minister of the UK Margaret Thatcher once said,
'Power is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you
aren't.'"
Declaring your title implies an attitude that says, "No
questions. No arguments. We'll do things my way."
"Great leaders are followed and admired, whereas
dictators are feared and despised," Price says. "Of course you're the
boss, but saying so doesn't make it so. Instead, use your power to empower
others. Ask, 'What do you need to succeed?' or, 'What can I do to help?'"
"That's not my
fault."
The best leaders take responsibility for their actions. They
don't point fingers, make excuses, or throw others under the bus. "While
no one likes to feel blame, a great leader absorbs the hit, demonstrates
accountability, and rallies the team toward a solution," she says.
"Instead of blaming previous management, the former administration, other
departments, or the economy, say, 'Let's talk about what we're going to do next
to ensure success.'"
As Henry Ford advised, "Don't find fault, find a
remedy."
"I'll do it
myself."
Leadership is not a solo act, Price explains. "This
attitude is notoriously referred to as the 'Do It Yourself (DIY) habit,' which
may be good for home improvement but not leadership improvement. The higher you
rise up the corporate ladder, the less you do personally as an individual
contributor — the more you do through and for others."
The goal is to put the right people in the right places and
enable them to succeed, she says.
"I know that —
I've thought of everything."
As legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said,
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
"Avoid dismissing or discounting others' input with a
self-important know-it-all attitude," Price says. "Even if you do
know, remain teachable. When you welcome and value your employees' intelligence
and contributions, you make them look good and feel smart."
"Failure is not an
option."
"This motto may work as the creed of NASA's Mission
Control Center and title of Gene Kranz's autobiography," says Price.
"However, when a leader utters this phrase in business, it is often
interpreted as, 'mistakes are not allowed.'"
This attitude inflicts fear into followers, curbs creativity,
and inhibits innovation. Great leaders allow — even encourage — their people to
fail forward; to turn blunders into building blocks, mishaps into stepping
stones. "That's why Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM, advised, 'The way to
succeed is to double your failure rate.' Or as Arianna Huffington says,
'Failure is not the opposite of success; it's part of success.'"
"That's not the
way we do it here."
Successful leaders are passionate about innovation — finding
a better way of doing something. "In fact, Steve Jobs said, 'Innovation
distinguishes between a leader and a follower.' For this reason, the best
leaders value employees who demonstrate creative thinking, flexibility, and
problem-solving skills," Price explains.
"These phrases, in one fell swoop, reveal you are the
opposite: stuck in the past with old-school thinking, inflexible, and
closed-minded."
Even if you disagree with someone's idea, say instead,
"Wow, that's an interesting idea. How would that work?" Or,
"That's a different approach. Let's discuss the pros and cons."
"I want results,
not relationships."
Great leaders know that results are produced through people,
which require building strong relationships with employees, fellow leaders,
customers, business partners, vendors, and other key stakeholders. "Just
as it appears in the dictionary, relationships come before results," Price
says.
"I don't care if
it's unethical. If it's not illegal, do it."
Great leaders neither encourage nor condone corrupt and
unethical behavior for the sake of accomplishing financial or organizational
goals. "The 'ends justify the means' is no excuse for deliberate deception,
disregard of company policy, noncompliance, and unlawful acts," says
Price. "Instead say, 'Do the right thing.'"
As Abraham Lincoln observed, "Nearly all men can stand
adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
"Don't bring me
any bad news or surprises."
Saying this doesn't make the bad news and surprises go away;
it just means people sweep a time bomb under the rug. "Great leaders want
to know about the issues that need immediate attention; therefore, they say,
'If there's bad news or surprises, I want to be the first to know,'" Price
says. "They create an environment where people are expected to raise
issues as soon as they appear, rather than hiding them. As Former US Secretary
of State Colin Powell told his staff, 'Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve
with age.'"
"You're lucky to
have a job here."
This statement destroys drive and kills morale. It implies
you're doing people a favor by employing them, and they're indebted for the
privilege of working for you. "It's up to the employee to decide if that's
true," she says. Instead try something like, "We're lucky to have you
on our team."
Price says one common denominator of great leaders is that
their words and actions inspire others to "dream more, learn more, do
more, and become more," as John Quincy Adams said. "That's why
they're seen as leaders — the combination of their communication and character
compel people to follow. The best leaders deliberately choose specific words to
say, and not say, in order to maximize their ability to achieve results through
people."
based on a CNN article.
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