As a leader, you want those on your team to be blessed, successful, and fulfilled. But sometimes the opposite is the case.
Maggots On A Plane
As reported in the February 18, 2024 edition of Morning Brew, a Delta airlines international flight was en route from Amsterdam to Detroit. Two hours in, it likely felt like a normal flight for the passengers on board. Snacks and beverages were likely already served. Others were finishing their first of multiple movies. Many were likely deep into their books or naps. Then the unexpected took place.
Maggots started falling on the passengers from an overhead bin!!!! Yes, you read that right. Maggots were on the plane. Where is Samuel L. Jackson when you need him!
A certain passenger had packed rotten fish (and their maggot companions) in their carry-on luggage. This forced the plane to turnaround and return to Amsterdam. Because of one person’s poor decision, hundreds of individuals were negatively impacted.
This extraordinary story provides us a harsh leadership reality – the poor decisions of any leader can negatively impact large numbers of individuals.
The following are twelves signs you are serving under a bad leader, one who negatively impacts their team. If you recognize these signs in the person you report to, be careful! You may soon have “leadership maggots” falling on your head!
12 Signs You Are Serving A Bad Leader
- A Bad Leader Has Continual Failure – All leaders make mistakes. It is when a leader does not learn from those mistakes and continually makes the same ones over and over that is a problem.
- A Bad Leader Continually Misses Opportunities – There is a difference between sensing opportunity and seizing it. Bad leaders rarely take advantage of the moments given to them.
- A Bad Leader Continually Make Bad Hires – Just as they struggle recognizing opportunity, bad leaders also have difficulty identifying and retaining top talent.
- A Bad Leader Lacks Support From Key People – Bad leaders turn off and disenfranchise the organization’s key influencers.
- A Bad Leader’s Organization Lacks Continuity – There is a continual revolving door of employees. Bad leaders transition from one employee to the next.
- A Bad Leader Has A Lack Of Execution – Strategic initiatives seemingly never come to pass.
- A Bad Leader Has Financial Mismanagement – Like the other items, this is a skill issue. The ability to properly manage a company’s resources is a stewardship issue.
- A Bad Leader Is Often A Public Embarrassment – You never know what they are going to say in a meeting, to a client, or the press. A lot of effort is put towards “keeping them on script.”
- A Bad Leader Can’t Get Good People To Join The Team – Great leaders are not going to leave stable environments for toxic ones.
- A Bad Leader Does Not Listen To Good Advice – They lack the humility needed to learn and reject sound counsel.
- A Bad Leader Has Negative Momentum – The organization is like a moat around a castle with alligators swimming in it. Nothing seems to ever work.
- A Bad Leader Lacks Options – The organization seemingly has no future. Solutions are nowhere to be found.
Do any of the signs of a bad leader listed above describe you? If so, it is not too late to improve.
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