Who's in Charge Here?!

Do you know the difference between a good leader and bad leader?

A good leader is admired by those that they lead.  They have integrity and self knowledge and encourage others to do the same.  Good leaders recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and urge others towards realizing their own.  They offer support, hope, and motivation to others.  They listen.  They inspire.  They unify their group based on common goals for the good of the whole.  They seek to promote the interests of their cause regardless of personal image. 

A good leader uses their charisma to make things happen...but not at the expense of those who are loyal to them.

A bad leader is toxic.  They use their superior social skills to quickly gain the trust of followers, but eventually will resort to abusing and undermining them.  A bad leader demands that their needs be served above those of the joint cause.  They use authority and fear to prevent anyone from questioning them. They demand respect rather than earn it.  They dominate.  They demean others for the purpose of distracting from their own shortcomings.

A bad leader will sacrifice the morale, ability, and productivity of the group in order to move themselves forward.

When a bad leader is in charge....are they really leading anyone anywhere?  If people are forced to follow them for fear of punishment or retribution, then no loyalty bonds the members of that group to the person leading it.   The divisions created amongst the followers as a result of the direct manipulation of the leader does nothing to achieve goals or produce results.  Instead you end up with small groups that each think they know how best to progress towards a finish line that may or may not exist.  Disjointed cliques form amongst the previously seduced followers who have begun to resist the tyranny and domination of the bad leader.  The bad leader depends on this chaos and disunity created in the course of their reign in order to hold onto their position.

In anticipation of the dust settling, a bad leader will ensure that they alone are left standing and those they have been charged with navigating are reduced to spasmodic groupings...each pointing the finger at the other in an effort to place the blame for unchecked ambitions.

Do you know who you are following?

♥M