What Happens When the Leader Is the Problem?
What Happens When the Leader Is the Problem? When the person responsible for creating clarity becomes the source of confusion, the team starts managing the leader instead of the work. A difficult employee can disrupt a project, create tension, or slow down a team. A difficult leader can do something larger because that person's behavior influences the environment in which everyone else has to operate. When disagreement is punished, people become more cautious. When priorities change constantly, managers spend more time anticipating the next change than planning confidently. When credit flows upward and blame flows downward, self-protection begins replacing collaboration. The leader's behavior does not remain personal. Everyone else has to adapt to it. Teams Learn How to Survive the Leader People are remarkably good at adjusting to power. If a leader dislikes bad news, employees learn how to soften it. If decisions are frequently reversed, managers start waiting for appro...