Ask yourself, “What would a lousy leader do?” Then, make damn sure you don’t do that.
Success leaves clues, so does failure. Pay attention to the lessons that surround you. Very few wake up in the morning determined to be a lousy leader, but through arrogance, dogma, lack of curiosity, or a moral compass that spins like a propeller, that’s where they end up.
Defend yourself against this with lousy leader prevention. When you are faced with a dilemma, imagine what a lousy leader would do. Do the opposite!
It may not always be the exact opposite, but by examining your potential actions through the lens of a lousy leader, before committing to them, you will more likely choose the better path.
And remember to lighten up. Don’t take everything so seriously. Things are neither bad nor good. It’s your attitude that makes them so. Be professional. Be sincere. Tone down the theatrics. Good leaders project calmness and confidence, even if they temporarily lack both. Leaders laugh often because they know lessons with laughter last longer.
Also published on Medium.