Leadership Thought #305 – Most Dictators Meet The Same Fate
No one likes to work in a company run by a leader who acts like a dictator. Similar to nations ruled by despots, simmering discontent is always present. Fear can be an effective motivator, especially in the short term, but you will never get someone’s best effort. Eventually, revolutionaries will emerge, and individuals will discover small ways to undermine your efforts. Moreover, the people that dictators put in leadership positions tend to be sinister and less capable, which can create even more problems. It is all a recipe for disaster.
Loyalty is a two-way street. Sure, you can bribe or coerce people to help you, but what type of employee does that attract? There are also many leaders who get by for extended periods of time using a divide and conquer strategy; however, at some point, you will lose the critical mass necessary for ongoing support, and the bull’s-eye will end up on your back. Modern history has repeatedly demonstrated that most dictators ultimately face removal from power or worse. If it doesn’t happen to them, it always happens to their appointed successor.
To get the best from your employees, they must feel personally invested in the outcome. They need to believe that their efforts are valued and their opinions respected. There needs to be a genuine sense of individual empowerment. Challenging the status quo should be encouraged rather than discouraged. The culture should operate as a meritocracy where the rewards are commensurate with performance rather than privilege and/or position. In addition, honesty and transparency in communication are paramount if you want individuals to believe what you say rather than create their own biased view of reality.
You don’t scare or manipulate people to perform long-term. Browbeating isn’t sustainable. You need to unlock their true potential and tap into their basic human needs to feel safe, integral to success, and connected to something bigger than themselves. The owners of most private companies certainly have the freedom to decide what type of organization they want to build and the culture they want to foster. However, as with all things, actions inevitably have consequences…
If you act like a dictator, your reign may be impactful, but it will be short.
Related articles
- The Mind Of A Dictator (psychologytoday.com)
- Dictatorships: They Fail… By A Lot (cparmycentral.com)
- Why Study Dictators: Research Project (slideshare.net)
- Leadership – Crucial Factor in Your Business – Be a Marketing Jedi (freemoneyplenty.wordpress.com)
- Power Doesn’t Always Bring Out The Best In People (capacity-building.com)
- A Sociopath’s Guide to Creating a Corporate Dictatorship In 10 Easy Steps (lennemi.wordpress.com)
