Effective Leaders vs Unqualified Leaders

I’m obsessed with leadership because every organization, company, and business will always require qualified leaders.

This is the reason why I loved the military because their leader development programs set Junior and Senior leaders up for success. Each rank required additional training because being a leader is an ongoing process. These same principles can and should be incorporated into every organization, company, and business.

Reference: Retired from the Military – Blog

Unfortunately, not everyone understands the difference between a leader and a boss: Effective Leader vs Unqualified Leader (Boss)

What are the differences between an Effective Leader and an Unqualified Leader (Boss)?

Effective Leaders:

• Take ownership for situations regardless if they’re good or bad.
• Trust and empower their subordinate leaders and staff.
• Embrace professional development.
• Control their emotions.
• Lead by example.
• Get to know their subordinates while maintaining professional barriers.
• Open to feedback on how to perform operations more efficiently.
• Use “We” statements – “We are going to reach our objective, this weekend.”

Unqualified Leaders (Boss):

• Use projection as a safety net.
• Blame other people and circumstances.
• Play the victim role.
• Refuse to entertain professional development.
• Lose control of their emotions.
• Micromanage their subordinates.
• Don’t know anything about their subordinates.
• Not interested in feedback or a more effective process. It is my way or the highway.
• Use “Me” statements. “The organization reached the object, because of me.”

The Bottom Line: Leaders create leaders and leader development is an ongoing process. Once you think you know it all, you will stop growing and the organization, company, and business you represent will do the same.

Challenge: Think about a previous or current leader and ask yourself:

1. What kind of leader were/are they?
2. What did/do they do that I can use as a tool to grow?
3. Did/do they value professional development?
4. Do I value professional development?
5. Did/do they control their emotions?
6. Do I control my emotions?
7. Did/do they take ownership?
8. Do I take ownership?
9. Do I require additional professional development?
10. Does this even matter?

For more information or tips on how to become a more effective leader in your professional and personal life, check out my latest book: