Is your leader a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Have you ever seen a leader who is posing as a gentle sheep but actually is a wolf? Unfortunately, this scenario is not uncommon. There are leaders who are power players and seek control. There are also leaders who have an organization and its employees’ best interests at heart. So how do we tell the difference?

As a consultant helping leaders with culture change and organizational health, one of my first questions is always “what type of feedback mechanisms are in place?” It’s a simple concept but often overlooked. If you don’t ask your customers, employees, peers, and your boss for feedback, how do you know if your organization is healthy? How do you know if your leadership is effective? How do you know what needs to be celebrated and what needs to be fixed?

So here is my advice for leaders: don’t just create an “open door policy” for employees. Use a formal evaluation tool for yourself. A standard 360 evaluation is incredibly enlightening and creates opportunities for coaching, improvements, and celebrations. Self-awareness is powerful. Humility is engaging. Be sincere in asking for constructive criticism and praise. Walk away from the common trap of “I’m in charge, and what I say goes.” Engage your employees and customers. Be a leader with clear expectations, clear communication, and genuine care for the growth and development of your company and employees.

And what advice is helpful for employees and customers of those leaders who are power players and indignant to feedback? You don’t have to run far, far away. But you do need to be cautious. Find avenues to communicate your desire for feedback in sincere ways. Try not to get frustrated and do the best you can informing influential individuals of the benefits of feedback. Explain that feedback such as a 360 evaluation is not to be used as a disciplinary tool, but for coaching, improvements, and celebrations. If you cannot make headway, then a hard look at what you are willing to live with is important.

The bottom line is this: keep your eyes wide open and you will see wonderful leaders around you where companies and employees thrive – and you will see the wolves that you need to be very cautious of.

{Contact Lemonade Consultants, LLC for help with leadership development in your organization.}