Is Your Leader Really as Bad As You Think

As with anything else in the world, there are good leaders and bad leaders. If you’ve experienced a really good leader, be thankful. And if you’ve ever worked with a horrible leader, you know what a miserable experience that is.

If you’re in that situation now, though, consider the possibility that your leader isn’t as awful as you think. Maybe, just maybe, the person who needs to make some adjustments is you. Ask yourself truthfully if any of these descriptions sound like you:

You tend to view the glass as half empty. Most of us like to think of ourselves as realists, but it’s possible that you’re looking at the world through a pessimistic or defeatist lens, coloring your perspective and even your outcomes. Maybe your leader isn’t the problem—or at least not the whole problem.

You struggle with delegating. If you find yourself controlling or monitoring everything that everyone around you is doing, watching and commenting and picking apart the work of others, and struggling to delegate even when your boss tells you that you need to, you have a problem with micromanagement. Giving other people room to work without looking over their shoulder will improve your relationship with your boss—and with everyone else on your team.

You keep stepping on toes. Overstepping is right next door to micromanagement, but it takes the form of doing tasks that fall completely outside your area of responsibility. When you overstep, you show a profound lack of faith in those around you, and ultimately in the leader who made the assignments. Your boss and others will be happier if you stay in your lane.

You have all the answers and rarely ask questions. People who think they have all the answers don’t feel the need to ask questions. But if you don’t ask questions, you have no way of knowing if your answer is the best possible or if it’s completely inaccurate. If you aren’t seeking out as much information as you can to solve an issue, you’re part of the problem.

You isolate yourself. There are times at work when you want to isolate yourself. You might have an urgent project or some work that requires intense concentration. And if you’re an introvert, you may work best alone. Isolation is a different matter. Refusing to engage with those around you leads to lost productivity and damaged relationships. Ask yourself if you should be more engaging and inclusive with your team

If you suspect you’re guilty of any of these behaviors, know that you’re playing a major role in your own unhappiness. Instead of pointing fingers at your boss, change your own direction before you do lasting harm to your mental health or career success.

Lead from within: Whether you’re a leader, manager, boss or person who aspires to become one, there is a lot you have to do to hone your craft. Don’t be one of those people who point fingers at others, because your leader might not be as horrible as you think.


#1  N A T I O N A L  B E S T S E L L E R

The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness


After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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Photo Credit: iStockPhotos


Lolly Daskal is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. Her extensive cross-cultural expertise spans 14 countries, six languages and hundreds of companies. As founder and CEO of Lead From Within, her proprietary leadership program is engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world.

Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.

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