How to spot a really incompetent boss.
By John Brandon, Contributing editor, Inc.com
Take a quick look around the office. Do you have any managers working for you (or with you) who are running around like a chicken trying to find a date? Anyone seem like they have insider information on how to brew the best coffee? Is this "leader" always the first one in the office and the last one to leave? You might be working with a selfish leader. Or, you might have a few of these traits and need to work on them yourself. It's a bad way to lead because it is all about looking good and getting the accolades.
By John Brandon, Contributing editor, Inc.com
Take a quick look around the office. Do you have any managers working for you (or with you) who are running around like a chicken trying to find a date? Anyone seem like they have insider information on how to brew the best coffee? Is this "leader" always the first one in the office and the last one to leave? You might be working with a selfish leader. Or, you might have a few of these traits and need to work on them yourself. It's a bad way to lead because it is all about looking good and getting the accolades.
Here's how to spot the problem.
1. Stress is the norm
Bad leaders create stress. They have a way of making everything seem urgent, which is usually due to poor planning. Stress is a way to exude control over a situation, and it usually traces back to selfishness. Why is that? Because the leader just wants to look good. When a manager delegates, it reduces stress and creates a calmer environment.
Bad leaders create stress. They have a way of making everything seem urgent, which is usually due to poor planning. Stress is a way to exude control over a situation, and it usually traces back to selfishness. Why is that? Because the leader just wants to look good. When a manager delegates, it reduces stress and creates a calmer environment.
2. Anger is the main motivational factor
You might not think anger and being selfish are related. After all, there are times when it is OK to get mad in the workplace, especially when it's "righteous anger" over the incompetence of a vendor or when a competitor gets sneaky with a new marketing campaign. Anger as a motivator is just a way for a manager to get what he or she wants. It's a form of manipulation. It's better to motivate using encouragement, rewards, and just acknowledging when someone performs well.
You might not think anger and being selfish are related. After all, there are times when it is OK to get mad in the workplace, especially when it's "righteous anger" over the incompetence of a vendor or when a competitor gets sneaky with a new marketing campaign. Anger as a motivator is just a way for a manager to get what he or she wants. It's a form of manipulation. It's better to motivate using encouragement, rewards, and just acknowledging when someone performs well.
3. Everything is last minute
Leaders who do everything because they want to make sure they get all of the attention all share a common trait. They are always in a hurry. That means they tend to do everything by the seat of their pants and quickly assign tasks and ask you to do things without much warning. The best leaders have a plan and tend to communicate about upcoming tasks. The main goal is for the department or the company itself to move forward, and that always takes planning.
Leaders who do everything because they want to make sure they get all of the attention all share a common trait. They are always in a hurry. That means they tend to do everything by the seat of their pants and quickly assign tasks and ask you to do things without much warning. The best leaders have a plan and tend to communicate about upcoming tasks. The main goal is for the department or the company itself to move forward, and that always takes planning.
Which traits would you add? Send me an email.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
PUBLISHED ON: JUL 31, 2015
via http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/3-signs-of-a-selfish-and-highly-incompetent-leader.html
PUBLISHED ON: JUL 31, 2015
via http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/3-signs-of-a-selfish-and-highly-incompetent-leader.html
Image/photo CREDIT: Getty Images
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