How NOT to be a Bad Boss: How Good Leaders Lead
Full transparency, for multiple reasons, I do not like the term “boss”. You may feel the same way, but it’s a catchy word.
25 years at a big Berkshire Hathaway company leading, watching others lead and then keynoting more events than I can count have given me a CLEAR vision of what works and what SUCKS with regards to leadership. It is not a science, it is an art, a mindset, and no one has ever displayed better leadership of people than my wife, Meg. Why? Because she cares about you. Your success, your future, your happiness. This is rare.
You see, bad bosses ruin lives, destroy company culture and make it easy to want to leave your position in search for another. The problem is that there are a lot of crappy bosses, and it begins, as it always does, at the top. If the head of the organization is caring, compassionate and a visionary, this will always make its way into the company culture.
Here is how good leaders lead.
1. They are not selfish
They care about you and you can feel it. It is palatable and easy to define. You are treated with respect; your opinions matter and your contributions are recognized.
2. They ask opinions and allow you to lead discussions.
Talking is overrated (unless I’m giving a keynote address- cue the giggles) and top leaders know this. They listen, speak when necessary and allow individuals and teams to navigate challenges, issues and come up with solutions. I once asked a Fortune 100 CEO how he is able to build consensus with managers, board members and staff. His answer was brilliant. “I listen, I learn, I become better informed. Then, I make decisions and often solicit input from others.”
“An appreciative listener is always stimulating.” – Agatha Christie
Personally, I have seen the good, the bad and the shi**y in corporate culture leadership and have boiled the behaviors to 3 reasons that leaders choose to behave the way they do.
- The good ones are confident, care about others and remember their individual journey that brought them to where they are. Their egos are in check, their confidence strong, but held in check and they care. They care about people. And they are not afraid. They make decision based on a myriad of information, experience and input from others. They are TRUE leaders.
- The bad ones are clueless of their leadership deficit, have not been properly trained and have egos focused on themselves more than you. In other words, your success is not as important as their own. And, regrettably, you know and feel this and there is often little you can do. You are trapped unless you leave.
- The shi**y ones are mean, in need of counseling and have no idea how to lead, gain respect and support others. You’ve experienced this type and you probably wanted to punch them in the face. Good on you for holding back, but this leads me to wonder how they ever got in the position to lead! The vetting process failed to be sure.
As we stand squarely in the middle of the decade, a change has unfolded before our eyes. Bosses/leaders are continuing to evolve, becoming more compassionate and truly focused on individuals’ needs which is good for business, staff retention, productivity and more. While this new type of leader has been developing for over 10 years, the effect on workplace culture is positive. Yes, there are still bad leaders & that will never change. However, you who lead others have been given an opportunity, a responsibility to be human, kind and lead with strength, compassion and wisdom. You are now the majority and have the power to be good, really good!
As always, I welcome your comments. Please feel free to share this too. And you can always email me at scott@scottlesnick.com
Continue the Leadership Conversation
The ideas in this article are part of a broader conversation about leadership, employee retention, workplace AI, and organizational change. Scott helps organizations across healthcare, government, manufacturing, financial services, technology, human resources, safety, early childhood education, and professional associations develop stronger leaders and build more engaged workplaces.
Explore Scott’s keynote programs:
- Leadership Speaker – Build stronger leaders, improve communication, and create high-performing teams.
- Employee Retention Keynote Speaker – Strengthen engagement, reduce turnover, and build workplaces where employees want to stay.
- Workplace AI Speaker – Help leaders and employees prepare for the future of work while keeping people at the center of organizational success.
- Change Management Speaker – Equip leaders with practical strategies for navigating disruption and leading organizational change with confidence.
