5 Differences Between Good and Bad Leaders

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5 Differences Between Good and Bad Leaders

I talked yesterday to a friend who was excited about how his work was going. Most of the conversation centered around what a great manager he had. Because everything rises and falls upon leadership, let’s take a look at some key differences between good leaders and bad leaders.

Bad leaders only tell you “what” to do
Good leaders share the “why” behind the “what”
Bad leaders are out to get every ounce of work they can from their team without explaining the why behind the task or project. Good leaders inspire you by discussing “why” they are giving you a task or project and why you’re the best person for the job. Good leaders also help you see how what you do fits into the strategy and objectives of the entire team and company.

Bad leaders play the blame game
Good leaders take responsibility
Bad leaders talk in terms of “You” when a mistake is made or when a project fails. Someone is always at fault for something but it’s never them. Bad leaders will be heard saying “You should have seen this coming and prevented it.” Bad leaders will never be heard saying, “I should have seen this coming and helped you with it, I’m sorry.” The bottom line is good leaders say “You” when things go right and when things go wrong they say “I” or “We.”

Bad leaders just don’t care
Good leaders care
Bad leaders care about getting the outcomes they want, not about you. If you make a mistake they’ll call you out publicly without any regard for your dignity. If you’re having personal problems they’ll be quick to tell you to leave your problems at home. Good leaders won’t give you a pass and accept poor work from you when you’re having a hard time in your personal life, but they will listen and help you any way they can. They don’t just care about the work you do, they care about the person doing the work.

Bad leaders give you the solutions
Good leaders help you find your own solutions
Bad leaders are often incredibly smart and competent. The problem is their strengths become their weaknesses because they need to be the smartest person in the room. Good leaders care more about your learning and development, and because of that they ask you questions that help you to find your own solutions. Good leaders want you to discover how smart and resourceful you are more than they want to impress you with how much they know.

Bad leaders don’t want to know what you think
Good leaders are always asking your opinion
Bad leaders don’t ask for your opinion because if they wanted you to have one, they would give it to you. They think it’s their job to have the ideas and the answers and they think it’s your job to do what you’re told. Good leaders often ask for your opinion and ideas because they know that no one person is as smart as the entire team. Good leaders won’t always agree with you or implement your suggestion but they always encourage you to speak up and share what’s on your mind.