The Worst Boss Ever

Some people are better off NOT being in charge.

Sadly, decision-makers in MOST organizations in this improv of life, haven't realized this. They haven't yet moved to a place where they have figured out HOW to honor talent and seniority WITHOUT placing that person in charge of other living, breathing human beings. (I'm talking the entire spectrum of organizations: businesses, non-profits, churches, clubs - any organized group of folks.)

This is especially true in the business world where it is unusual to give someone a SIGNIFICANT raise WITHOUT promoting them to management. If you're getting ready to hit "send" on that application for a manager job within your organization, or you've just been offered a promotion to a leadership position after years of faithful service I ask you to please think about the JOB, not the MONEY.

That's a difficult challenge, I know.

If you are wildly creative type and never follow the rules, I applaud you! I want to work on a team with you. That's a great recipe for being self-employed (or an employee of a wonderful leader) but its a lousy recipe for being in charge of other creative, feeling humans UNLESS, you also posses the special sauce - an extremely practical side. Those creatives that have that practical, organized swirl in their personality seem to be able to handle managing others just fine.

If you've been offered a position of leading others,  I'm going to give you the fine print. I'm sharing the stuff that you must be WILLING to do if you AGREE to the money and the authority. This is the stuff HR probably won't tell you before you sign on the dotted line.

To be in charge of other people, you have to be willing to . . .

1. Ask other people to do things . . . and be willing to do them yourself if they don't get it done. 
2. Hold other people accountable  . . . and hold yourself to an even higher standard.
3. Behave in the way you expect your team to behave.
4. Take all the blame and give all the credit.
5. Assume all the risk. 
6. Have the tough conversations . . . which may include telling someone they have a noticeable body odor or are wearing something inappropriate.
7. Follow the rules (and sometimes laws) of the organization in which you're involved . . . even if you privately disagree.
8. Treat your team equally . . . even those folks who rub you the wrong way.
9. Do the paperwork . . . all of it.
10. Run the meetings . . . and keep everyone on task.
11. Listen to your team but make the final decisions . . . even the unpopular ones.
12. Let your team do things THEIR way . . . even if it isn't the way YOU would do it.
13. Spend individual time with each member of your team on a regular basis . . . especially when you are busy.
14. Take the time to give complete, specific and direct instruction . . . especially when training someone on how to do something new.

If you want to be an effective leader there's really no gaming it. Either you can do what the job requires, or you can't. 

That doesn't mean you cannot do all those things in your own UNIQUE and CREATIVE way. In fact, your team will love you if you can do all of those things in your own way and not mimic a cookie-cutter style of leadership. But, be warned if you ignore -or dismiss as unimportant- any of the items on the list above, you will create a MESS. 

Here's a true story. Max (name changed to protect the innocent) was an eccentric, acerbic, innovative and creative designer. Max was a prickly pear, but, charming in his own unique way. Max was able to take all the specifications of a job and turn them into something unique and original so others forgave him his peculiar habits. However, he had been with the organization for years and hadn't had a significant pay increase because the arbitrary pay-scale folks determined he was already being paid higher than what his job title allowed. Max was feeling unappreciated because his paycheck didn't reflect his contribution to the organization.

Rather than do something unique and create a new job title (with a higher maximum pay rate), the powers-that-be decided that Max should be a MANAGER! To his credit, Max was leery, but he wanted the money he (rightly) deserved. So, he became a manager. It was a disaster.

Honestly, he was one of the worst bosses I've ever encountered. He never talked to his team. He never listened to his team. He resented the administrative paperwork so he didn't do it, which meant his team's performance reviews were turned in late and it affected their bonuses and raises. He didn't get to create amazing anymore, he just SUPERVISED the creation of things and loudly complained that his team wasn't making things as amazing as HE would make them -even to the point of insulting his staff. Obviously, quality suffered. The team was in shambles.

Max took his frustration out on anyone who would listen. Hours were spent in HR trying to deal with the problem. Everyone involved was miserable. The employees who reported to Max and who actually stayed with the company requested transfers to another team. Finally, he was DEMOTED back to the job he loved.

But nothing was ever quite right again.

Are you ready to lead others?

Have I left anything off the list that you think is crucial to leading others?