Leadership Thought #370 – Fifteen Things Leaders Should Never Do
We all get in our way sometimes, and leaders are no different. Just because we know we shouldn’t do something doesn’t always mean we won’t do it. However, not all mistakes are equally harmful. There are fifteen things a leader should never do:
- Condoning or looking the other way regarding immoral, unethical, or unsafe behavior.
- Discriminating based on age, gender, or race.
- Holding others to a higher personal and professional standard than you hold yourself.
- Having different rules of behavior for friends and family members than for everyone else in the organization.
- Not telling the truth about important matters affecting the company.
- Penalizing or haranguing others for telling you the truth.
- Using conflict avoidance as an excuse for not addressing critical business issues or dealing with difficult people.
- Not taking personal responsibility and shifting the blame to others when you were the one who screwed up.
- Taking full credit for something you didn’t do.
- Using your power to intimidate others and letting your direct reports do the same.
- Making promises to your employees or customers that you cannot or will not keep.
- Not paying your taxes.
- Giving themselves a raise when the company is doing poorly and/or using debt to subsidize their pay for any extended period.
- Claiming ignorance when it comes to important financial matters affecting the company.
- Letting emotions rather than sound business judgment drive decision-making.
We are defined by what we say “no” to or don’t do rather than what we do. Leading others is a privileged position and should be treated as such. An organization’s culture invariably emanates from the highest levels. If you are unhappy with how things are going, look in the mirror first and assess your leadership behavior. I’m confident that you will find clues about what YOU are doing wrong.
Related articles
- Values and Behavior (superinnovator.blogspot.com)
- Leadership Behavior Loyal Employees Trust (matthewrmonroe.wordpress.com)
- What are the hidden costs of tolerating bad leaders? (virginiabusiness.com)
- Leaders Make or Break Employee Engagement (stephenjgill.typepad.com)
- Leaders and Their Flagrant Fouls (brandimpact.wordpress.com)
- When good employees do bad: Seven behaviors that may precede a scandal (theorganizedexecutiveblog.com)
- To condone, or not to condone: that is the question. (redheadcarol.com)
