GOOD.BAD.UGLY
- whatshesaid2020
- Apr 22, 2022
- 3 min read
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "the Good", Lee Van Cleef as "the Bad", and Eli Wallach as "the Ugly". The plot revolves around three gunslingers competing to find a fortune in a buried cache of Confederate gold amid the violent chaos of the American Civil War (specifically the Battle of Glorieta Pass of the New Mexico Campaign in 1862), while participating in many battles, confrontations, and duels along the way.
My husband loves Clint Eastwood and spaghetti western films!
I love the title, "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" because I also associate it with the traits of leadership. Have you ever experienced these types of leaders? I have and like me, I'm sure you can visualize each one right now!
Over 40 years in the nonprofit arena and 30 in a Christian organization, I have experienced my share of these types of leaders. Thankfully, more good than bad or ugly. Sadly, it's the latter that seems to be the ones remembered the most.
In a Forbes article, "Leadership Weaknesses: How to Spot the Qualities of a Bad Leader," Brian Tracy outlines five specific traits that poor leaders possess.
1. Poor Integrity. One of my favorite leadership quotes is, "Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word." It doesn't matter how capable, intelligent or effective a leader is. If they lack moral integrity, troubles are bound to follow. For one, employees look to their leaders for examples of what behavior is acceptable. If a leader is engaging in unethical behavior, it won't be long before the employees under them are engaging in unethical behavior as well. Sooner or later, a lack of moral integrity almost always leads to a person's undoing, which is why it should be a major red flag.
2. Lack of Adaptability. Great leaders know how to employ a range of leadership styles depending on what the situation calls for. The simple truth is that not all employees are motivated by the same factors, and there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach that will work in every situation. Good leaders recognize this and are fluid, while poor leaders may be stuck in their ways and unwilling to adapt to what the situation calls for. If you notice that a leader is stubborn, slow to adapt to changing situations, and is demonstrating a "my-way-or-the-highway" attitude, they are likely a poor leader.
3. Little Vision for the Future. The job of a leader is to push forward, and good leaders should always be focused on how they can make tomorrow more efficient and productive than today. Bad leaders, though, often get complacent and stay satisfied with the status quo. If a leader is not focused on the future and demonstrates a clear plan for how to continuously improve, progress is unlikely to happen.
4. Lack of Accountability. The best leaders take accountability when things go wrong and give credit to others when things go right. Employees want to know that they are working for a leader who will give them due credit when they do well and not throw them under the bus when things go wrong. Some leaders, though, are unable or unwilling to shoulder this responsibility and instead deflect blame to others and take credit for themselves. In the end, this behavior is going to do very little to motivate a workforce to succeed.
5. Poor Communication Skills. Great communication skills are by far some of the most important traits for a leader to have. It doesn't matter how effective a plan a leader is able to draw up. If they are not able to communicate that plan to their employees in a way that is easy to understand and motivating, then little progress is going to be made. Good leaders need to be able to listen intently and communicate clearly. If a leader is demonstrating an inability to communicate their ideas and expectations to others, they are not likely to be a very effective leader.
So the next time you sit down to watch Clint Eastwood consider which gunslinger qualities you possess. Are you the good, the bad, or the ugly when it comes to being a leader? It might be good for a spaghetti western, but not in leadership.
What She Said ~ Beverly
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