Signs of Leadership

What are the signs of leadership? Unfortunately, those who hold themselves out as leaders — executives, managers, supervisors, and employees — might list, sometimes secretly, the following:

Knowing everything — or acting like it.

Blaming others when something goes wrong.

Taking credit when something goes right.

Not including in meetings subordinates with knowledge of what the meeting is about.

Never being on time for a meeting with a subordinate.

Always making subordinates wait for a scheduled meeting.

Taking phone calls during a meeting with subordinates.

Canceling or calling meetings at the last minute.

Failing to respond to subordinates’ emails or voicemails.

Becoming an expert in the use of corporatespeak.

Failing to stand up for direct reports, no matter what.

Saying something untrue over and over again, like “People are out most important asset.”

Being surrounded by people who won’t disagree.

Withholding praise, compliments, and thank yous.

Finding fault most of the time.

Telling subordinates to be candid about everything — as part of a weeding out process.

Never leaving your office.

1. 

   John Phillips says:

   March 7, 2010 at 6:37 pm

   E. Says:

   Brilliant John. Thanks for the Leadership List. D.

   February 27th, 2010 at 9:22 am e