I just had a quick look on Amazon at the Leadership books. In various formats there are 32,000. If I read them all it would take me roughly 10 years. It made me wonder just how many books, articles, blogs have been written on the subject of Leadership. It’s a subject that so many people strive to learn. They want to become great Leaders, it has such an enormous impact. I mean it’s even got me typing a capital L every time I type Leadership!
You’re probably wondering why? Well, Leadership is a subject that I believe I’m well versed in. I am one, I work with lot’s of them, I coach them and I help people find out what type of Leadership works. So far, in doing it for 13 years, I’ve done ok. Don’t get me wrong, for every good decision I’ve made, I’ve made a poor one, for every useful behaviour I’ve shown, I’ve not just put my foot in it, I’ve jumped in head first with a bad behaviour.
What I have discovered recently though, is an example of Leadership that I’m going to refer to as Damage Leadership.
This is when someone in a position of Leadership, influence or authority looks to damage the reputation of another to enhance their own reputation. The reason behind this style is that they believe this will, in turn, make them look better than the other person. By discrediting someone else, they are trying to show they have better qualities.
What actually happens is that the people who are listening begin lose trust, begin to doubt and start to move away. The real impact of this style of Leadership is a reputation for spite, blame and desperation and ironically strengthens peoples perceptions of those being spoken about.
I wonder if you have met someone like that before?
I wonder if you’ve done that before?
Damage Leadership. Maybe I should write a book.
