Donald Trump is a study in what not to do if you strive to be an effective and ethical leader. He is a twisted amalgam of every bad boss, shitty parent, and megalomaniacal tyrant throughout history. We can point to his appalling public speaking ability, his poor communication skills, his shocking lack of intelligence, his cowardice, his petty and spiteful nature, and say, “This is precisely … Read More Leadership in a New Era
We may not recognize him as a bully at the time, but we love to watch him in action. The way he can push his way through a problem without apprehension or concern for repercussions gets us all worked up. We get vicarious gratification seeing someone use brute force to get his way. It must be so refreshing, we think, to live that way—not have to worry about consequences … Read More Why we Love the Bully
We tend to put too much emphasis on the unrealistic notion that realizing a great mission is the result of a single magnificent actor. While leaders do have power, not all of them warrant our respect. An organization, whether it is a family, a small business, a platoon, or a country, does not succeed because of a single great leader. It succeeds because of the ideas and actions … Read More Stop Leadership Worship
Back in the day, each organization had one clear objective, and each person in an organization had one clear job that helped the organization realize that objective. We knew what to expect and we could execute our function without too many surprises. The cobbler made shoes, the barber cut hair, and the farmer grew crops. Each had certain tools they needed and each needed certain people … Read More The Paradigm Shift that Could Change the World
You will find more true leaders—self-leaders—among teachers, nurses, and community organizers than you will among CEOs, politicians, and celebrities. It is the former who lead for the purpose of effecting positive change—change that has far-reaching and often immeasurable impact. Their motive for leadership is not a hunger for power. True leadership come from a desire to use your knowledge and ability in a way that has the … Read More Leadership is a Means Not an End
