THE SHITTY LEADERSHIP SERIES - FREE SHIT TO READ
Help Leaders Suck Less
Let me cut to the chase here. Either you are one of the people reading this because you are a shitty leader, you are one of those unfortunate souls obligated to work with a shitty leader, or you like watching while the dumpster fires burn from afar. Either way, welcome to the place for you.
The good news?
Before you start barking excuses about why you're not a shitty leader ("I'm busy! My team is lazy! The planets aren't in alignment!"), let's get one thing straight:
Got it? Good. Now we can move on. This is still a safe space - just trying to get you to wake up!
Your ego thinks it's doing you a favour by protecting your fragile self-esteem, but reality, or in actuality, what you're doing by choice, is become a control freak who can't listen. Insulted leaders act like their insecurity is authority, while real leaders-active leaders-know their shit, own their mistakes, and don't need to prove every five minutes that they're the smartest person in the room. (Hint: You probably aren't). If you're not striving to hire people smarter than you, that in itself is a form of shitty leadership, or shitty recruitment.
Want to instantly suck less? Start caring about your team. No, not in a corporate buzzword, “we’re like family” way-actually care. Listen. Invest in their growth. Stop treating them like cogs in your inefficient, ego-fueled machine.
Employees who feel valued perform better. Employees who feel like they are working for their narcissistic overlord? They check out. If you are wondering why the best people leave, there's a mirror waiting for you. I'd suggest looking in one while slowly peeling away the mask. Employees generally quit their boss, not the company.
If vague directives, passive-aggressive emails, or some random policy changes (scope creep) that mean nothing to your employees were the ingredients for every scoop of your so-called leadership style, maybe you should stop wondering why your team secretly fantasizes about you stepping on LEGO barefoot.
Well, what do you think? Do they want to fix it? Be clear. Be transparent. Be real. Talk with people, not at them. And for the love of leadership, stop hoarding information like a dragon guarding a pile of gold. People can't succeed if they don't know what the hell is going on.
Shitty leaders avoid accountability like it's a disease they could catch. Great leaders own their actions. Admit it when you screw up (and you will). If your team is failing, help them succeed—not by pointing fingers but by helping lead them. And if someone calls you out? Instead of getting defensive, listen. Growth happens when you stop pretending you have all the answers and start learning from the ones who do. Trust those you have made accountable to be accountable, then back off and let them do their thing.
You can remain a shitty leader or stop being a shitty leader - what will your ego do?