So… What If You’re the Shitty Leader?

by MARK ROBINSON 

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting a fantastic group of people on June 26, 2025… or maybe they had the absolute pleasure of meeting me. Who’s to say? Either way, bodies were in chairs, minds were (mostly) open, and yes—a meeting happened. In person. Wild, I know.

Here’s the shit we unpacked, untangled, and (hopefully) unshittified. If you were there, consider this your recap. If you weren’t—well, maybe sit with the FOMO and book me next time.

You’re welcome.

Let’s cut the corporate crap.

If you’re reading this hoping for a pat on the back and a checklist of leadership buzzwords you can sprinkle into your next team huddle—congrats, you’ve just walked into the wrong bloody website.

This isn’t about “inspirational journeys” or “thought leadership.” It’s about finally asking the question no one wants to say out loud:

What if you’re the shitty leader in someone else’s story?

Welcome to the reckoning. Brought to you by ego, avoidance, and all the little ways we think we’re leading—when really, we’re just starring in our own solo shows.

Let’s be clear. Shitty leaders aren’t shitty people. They’re just regular folks who let ego drive, outsourced accountability like it was a food delivery service, and haven’t had a real conversation with self-awareness since 2009.

They micromanage, dodge blame like it’s dodgeball, and use “strategy” as a weapon instead of a map. You know the type—hell, maybe you are the type.

Ask yourself:

• Do you say things like “My team isn’t executing,” without asking if you ever gave direction?

• Do you think a pizza party counts as “culture work”?

• Do you rewrite strategy every quarter because you're bored and need to “shake things up”?

If any of that stung a little… good. That’s the sound of your ego deflating. Pop goes the dysfunction.

It’s not a vibe. It’s not a hashtag. It’s not something you post on LinkedIn and forget about.

Active Leadership means getting off autopilot and driving with both hands on the accountability wheel. It means showing up. Authentically. On purpose. Even when it’s uncomfortable.

Especially when it’s uncomfortable.

If you’re brave enough to look in the mirror and ask, “Could I be the villain in someone’s work story?”—you’re already on the right path. Now let’s Unshittify the big three places where most leadership trainwrecks happen.

Strategy: “Vision Without Execution Is Just a Delusion”

Shitty Leader Move: Talks a big game about transformation but can’t commit to a quarterly plan. Shiny-object syndrome, with a side of control issues.

Better Leader Move: Anchor to a long-term vision (yes, you actually need one). Get everyone rowing in the same damn direction. Be the annoying broken record about measurable outcomes.

Mic-Drop Moment: If no one knows where the ship is going or why, congrats—you’re the captain of the Titanic. And yes, that iceberg is employee burnout.

Culture: “It’s Not Ping-Pong. It’s Who Gets Promoted.”

Shitty Leader Move: Thinks culture is beer Fridays and cupcakes. Promotes the loudest voice in the room instead of the most competent one.

Better Leader Move: Build your leadership bench before you're desperate. Promote based on substance, not volume. Talk to your people like humans. Listen like you give a damn.

Mic-Drop Moment: Culture isn’t what you preach—it’s what you tolerate. And if you let ego run wild, you’ve outsourced your values to dysfunction.

Governance: “If It’s Only Transparent When You’re Winning, It’s Not Trust”

Shitty Leader Move: Makes big decisions in secret, then wonders why the team isn’t bought in. Blames “bad luck” when things implode.

Better Leader Move: Talk about risks before the sky falls. Make decisions out loud. Welcome feedback—even when it’s uncomfortable.

Mic-Drop Moment: You can’t retroactively lead once the fire’s already raging. Real leaders show up before the explosion, not after the damage control team arrives.

This isn’t about shame. It’s about calling out the patterns we’ve all normalized. Because performance, trust, and culture? They don’t start with your team.

They start with you.

Not your boss. Not your VP. Not the moon phase or HR or your horoscope.

You.

So, the next time your team’s disengaged, your culture’s flat, or your turnover’s spiking—don’t look for the exit strategy. Look in the damn mirror.

And then? Do something different.

Brave enough to Unshittify your leadership?

Here’s your first step: admit that vibes aren’t strategy, pizza isn’t culture, and if you keep leading from ego, you’re not a leader—you’re just the main character in a one-person delusion.

Leadership isn’t your title. It’s your behaviour.

And every single day, you’re advertising something.

So, ask yourself: what the hell are you putting on your billboard?

Stay shitty-aware. Ready to rebuild?  

...Now seriously, book me!