While the word "leadership" itself is always associated with positive organizational changes and success, the truth is that not all leaders are good and effective. The history of humankind does not praise bad leaders. However, what it really means to be a bad leader? What are the specific examples of bad leadership styles?
The researchers emphasized that the most common traits of bad leaders are lack of capacity to plan and execute projects as well as inability to adopt to changes (Aluya & Garraway, 2010). Indeed, good leaders are flexible and welcome changes, while bad leadership style implies resistant to everything new. If Bill Gates was resistant to changes and lacked innovative spirit, probably the world would never witness the emergence of personal computers and the development of other technologies associated with the computers. If Bill Gates lacked the ability to execute the projects, the entire world could be very different today.
Interestingly enough, while thousands of studies have been conducted with the purpose to identify effective leadership aspects, significantly fewer researches were initiated to explore bad leadership styles. According to one of such studies, bad leaders are characterized with poor communication, ineffectiveness in dealing with subordinates, poor ethics, inconsistent behaviors, poor interpersonal behaviors, excessive political behavior, and lack of strategic skills (Aluya, 2009).
Reviewing the list of bad leadership skills, it is reasonable to assume that bad leaders can be turned into good, or at least better, leaders. With honest self-assessment and the desire to grow professionally and personally, a leader is capable of modifying the philosophy of leadership in the best interests of an organization.
References:
Aluya, J. (2009). Complexity of Leadership, Organizations and the Real Estate Industry: Disrupting Existing Systems. Bloomington: AuthorHouse.
Aluya, J. & Garraway, O. (2010). Nanotechnology, Solar, Wind, and Hybrid Alternative Energy: Global Leadership Perspectives. Bloomington: AuthorH
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