Leadership is an essential component of any successful organization. A great leader can motivate their team, drive performance, and achieve exceptional results. However, not all leaders are created equal. Some leaders can inspire and create positive change, while others can be detrimental to their organization. In this article, we will examine the differences between leaders who deliver and leaders who destroy. We will provide helpful guidelines for leaders to assess their leadership habits and styles, and to ensure that they are leading in the most effective way possible.
Leaders who Deliver
Effective leaders who deliver are those who inspire their teams and create a positive impact on their organization. Here are some of the key characteristics of leaders who deliver:
1. They Share Maximum Information:
Effective leaders share as much information as possible with their team. This helps to build trust and transparency, and ensures that everyone is on the same page. By sharing information, leaders can also enable their team to make better decisions and contribute more effectively to the organization.
2. Mindful and Vigilant Use of Power:
Leaders who deliver are mindful of their power and use it vigilantly. They ensure that they use their authority in a fair and consistent manner, and they don’t abuse their power.
3. Create Conditions for Motivation to Flourish:
Effective leaders create an environment that fosters motivation and inspires their team. They provide opportunities for growth, recognize and reward their team’s achievements, and promote a positive work culture.
4. Obsessed with Performance and Results:
Leaders who deliver are obsessed with achieving results and driving performance. They set high standards and hold their team accountable for meeting them.
5. Stamping Out Poor Behavior:
Leaders who deliver do not tolerate poor behavior, even if it yields positive results. They recognize that bad behavior can undermine team morale and productivity, and take steps to stamp it out.
6. Reviewing Wins and Losses Equally:
Effective leaders review both successes and failures with equal passion and discipline. They use successes to build on momentum and learn from failures to improve.
7. Adjust Goals to Ensure Motivation:
Leaders who deliver adjust goals in any direction to ensure they motivate and inspire their team. They understand that sometimes goals need to be changed to ensure that they are realistic and achievable.
8. Talking Endlessly About Responsibility:
Effective leaders talk about responsibility and ensure that everyone on their team is accountable for their actions. They recognize that a sense of responsibility is critical to achieving results and driving performance.
9. Mindful Use of Power:
Leaders who deliver are mindful when using their power. They ensure that their actions are consistent with the organization’s values and mission.
10. Understanding Politics:
Effective leaders understand the politics of their organization and work within the established framework to achieve results.
Leaders Who Destroy
Leaders who destroy are those who undermine their team, create a negative work culture, and hinder the organization’s progress. Here are some of the key characteristics of leaders who destroy:
1. Share Minimum Information:
Leaders who destroy share as little information as possible with their team. They may do this to maintain control or because they don’t trust their team.
2. Thoughtless Use of Power:
Leaders who destroy use their power thoughtlessly, without considering the impact on their team or organization.
3. Use Pressure, Fear, and Hierarchy to Motivate:
Leaders who destroy may use negative motivators such as pressure, fear, and hierarchy to drive performance. This can create a toxic work environment and undermine team morale.
4. Myopically Focused on Results:
Leaders who destroy may become so focused on achieving results that they lose sight of the bigger picture. They may sacrifice long-term goals for short-term gains.
5. Tolerating Poor Behavior:
Leaders who destroy may tolerate poor behavior from their team members, as long as they achieve results. This can create a culture of entitlement and undermine team morale and productivity.
6. Interrogating Failures:
Leaders who destroy may focus solely on failures and use them to interrogate their team members. This can create a culture of blame and fear, which is detrimental to the organization.
7. Only Making Goals Harder:
Leaders who destroy may set unrealistic goals and refuse to adjust them, even if they are demotivating for their team. They may also make goals even harder, even if they are already difficult to achieve.
8. Talking Endlessly About Accountability:
Leaders who destroy may talk endlessly about accountability, without providing the necessary support and resources to help their team achieve their goals. This can create a culture of blame and fear.
9. Frightened of Losing Power:
Leaders who destroy may be more concerned with maintaining their power than with achieving results. They may resist change or innovation, fearing that it will undermine their authority.
10. Political Maneuvering:
Leaders who destroy may engage in political maneuvering to maintain their power or to undermine their colleagues. This can create a culture of distrust and undermine team morale.
To sum it up, the differences between leaders who deliver and leaders who destroy can have a significant impact on an organization’s success. Effective leaders who deliver can inspire their team, achieve exceptional results, and create a positive work culture. In contrast, leaders who destroy can create a toxic work environment, undermine team morale, and hinder the organization’s progress.
As a leader, it is important to assess your leadership habits and styles and ensure that you are leading in the most effective way possible. By following the guidelines outlined above, you can become a more effective leader and create a positive impact on your organization.
