What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Better yet, who’s the worst leader you’ve worked for?  I bet you’ve had at least one, probably two or three bad leader memories.

For me…  as a teenager working the food window at the local Trailways bus station.

I sold hotdogs, chips, snacks, drinks and candy bars to the bus traveling crowd. Being right downtown, it was the kind of experience I’ve tried hard to forget.  The guy who ran the place loved being the dictator of his little kingdom, which was just the bus station snack bar. All of us, at one time or another, have worked for dictators or poor leaders who had no clue what a good leader was.

So in honor of all the sorry leaders we’ve had to endure…

Dictators create an atmosphere that needs kid gloves

Leaders create an atmosphere where conflict is OK

Dictators feed on power

Leaders empower others

Dictators command

Leaders connect

Dictators rule over kingdoms

Leaders grow their influence

Dictators usually stifle growth

Leaders stimulate growth

Dictators are about position

Leaders are about people

Dictators need everyone reporting to them

Leaders setup clear lines of authority

Dictators hoard authority

Leaders delegate authority

Dictators are takers

Leaders are givers

Dictators just want it done now

Leaders like getting it done correctly

Dictators savor praise

Leaders direct praise to the team

Dictators focus on the moment

Leaders focus on the future

Dictators focus on the situation

Leaders focus on the culture

Dictators are stroked

Leaders are praised

Dictators fumble the ball when the pressure is on

Leaders rise to the occasion when pressure is on

Dictators blame others when mistakes take place

Leaders take responsibility when mistakes are made

Dictators run when things get hard

Leaders own it when things get hard

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