Leadership ? It's something I've been pondering latley. I've recently got moved up to the lead of a 7 person crew at work and my managers tell me they don't understand how I get them to work well, because anytime they try it never works. They asked me who taught me my leadership skills and honestly I really don't think I have good skills in that area ( honestly I feel like I'm hearding cats half the time ). But as I told them about past bosses I've had , officers and NCO's I've been under the thought popped up ,: Did I learn more from the good leadership I've had or the bad?

I learned a hand full of things from my good leadership about what to do to get people to work , how to handle problems in house first then work your way up ,how you should stand up for the people under you, be ready to take responsibility ,be kind but never a push over , "the look " and formost NEVER BE AFRAID TO TALK TO THOSE IN CHARGE FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR PEOPLE. All the good leadership I've had both millitary and civilian implement these things constantly, and from that just about everyone in the crew or platoon would happily do what they said because we knew they where gonna take care of us. I can't tell you how much harder me and my ole company worked for people like ole Sgt.Lee or Cap. Jefferson after seeing how much they stood up for us

On the flip side I've learned so many things not to do from bad leadership. Being a yes man, doing whatever you where told no matter how little sense it made even it it could get someone hurt ,talking to people any which way because you where higher up the food chain, work people like dogs with out any form of thanks ,making people below you do stuff you'd never do, use fear to get your way , constant threats , not being able to listen or take constructive criticism, passing blame any time you could, playing favorites and the list goes on. This kinda leadership never had people with good work ethic, it was always just do the bare minimum because we knew regardless it would never be enough, we would never be taken care of just thrown under the bus when it fit them, so on and so forth.
So I don't know who I learned more from .What about y'all ?

lotsa bad leadership around nowadays...

Smart, sensible people absorb everything, then make their own decisions. I'd say you are one!

Wolfie...you're wise beyond your years Son !

I don't know that you can really pick. My first instinct is you learn more from bad leadership. You definitely learn what not to do. But you learn what TO do from good leadership. I figure it's a toss up.

You learn the good qualities from good leaders. Bad leaders only reinforce what a good leader has shown you. If you observe or work under bad leaders you are exposed to that style take note ponder on how to do differently and don't make those same mistakes. Good leaders lead by example, have empathy, Truly care about the task and the people doing that task and strive to make their team individually and as a group better. One of the great leaders I was fortunate to serve under in the Navy told me something that was a game changer. He said that if you do your job like it supposed to be done then in your absence it will have the same effect as removing your finger from the ocean. You will find that good leaders are confident even in the face of adversity, have nothing to prove as they know who and what they are and always have integrity and take responsibility. Sounds to me by the post you make you are well on your way. Try to understand the why to what less than good leaders do. It may take some thought but understanding their motivation will help you navigate through your own journey.

One of my former supervisors said no one respects or listens to her. My response was, you have to earn it, not demand it. Lead by example. She learned to do that and ask, not demand. Once everyone realized she was working with, instead of over us, all went smoothly.
I assume in the military it would be called leading from the front.

One of my long time clients used to enjoy firing guys on Christmas Eve. They’d go home to their families on what should be the happiest day, with their head hanging down and full of worry. The lesson I learned from him was to flee in the opposite direction.

I am sure from both you mimic the tasks of the good leaders.

but you sure learn fast from bad leaders what not to do.

I bet you work along side them and probably as hard or harder.

they see that and it inspires them to work up to you.

you also probably keep them organized , some people do better being a strong back and like to turn off the thinker you may be playing to their skills.


seeing the work flow and being one step ahead

some crews like banter , work goes fast if you can chuckle and banter , others just put on the music and bust through the work.

I think its a toss up. I think most bad leadership share some common traits. First they think they are a little better and second they forget that the people under them are the ones that are reflecting how good their leadership is.

Seems to me if you do a good job you get more work piled on you... If you do a lousy job you get fired... Or promoted.

Mike

You learn from both The bad seems to stick around the longest

Had a boss that worked weekends right beside us...

He said, "I'll not ask you to do something I won't do.". And he didnt, usually ask which job you wanted if there were two and he'd do the other.

Best boss/person you'd want to run into.

And when you work with someone like that, especially after having had bad bosses, you're so appreciative that you find yourself taking the crappier job to make their job a little easier. At least, that's how it worked for me.

Yep!!
Many times!

And he owned the business and really wouldn't have had to work. Good hard working guy.

That's a cool story, Hippie.

Like Yukon John said you learn from both, good and bad. It sounds like you are on top of it. Keep up the good work.

I've had good, and some real bad bosses.. You learn a lot from the bad ones...on how NOT to do things

I can't recall anyone when receiving an award thanking a crappy boss for their success. So based on that and personal experience I'm going to say you learn better leadership skills from those who excel not those who fail.