Don’t spur a willing horse.
~Ancient proverb

It never ceases to frustrate me how many people in “leadership” positions penalize the people who work hardest for them.  Why disparage those who work for you?  Does that ever work?  What could you possibly be thinking when you so diligently set out to destroy morale of everyone around you?

But the question that I most want to ask bad bosses and leaders is:  Have you never seen a movie?

Or read a story?  Tv even?  Seriously.  It’s really irritating to see such blatant ignorance.  The tyrant always loses.

Does anyone ever root for the heartless tyrant?

Lets look at the well known story Robin Hood.

The sheriff of Nottingham is evil, mean, pretty much without redeemable qualities whatsoever.  His greed and selfishness are undeniable.  But above all, he treats everyone around him like dirt.  He yells, he screams, he blames others for his mistakes.  Nothing is ever good enough, all he sees is failure in his people.  As a result, he fails.  His soldiers and men fear him, but they don’t respect him.  They work for money, or for lack of options, but they are anything but loyal.  Belittled, broken people will do just enough to stay off the radar.  When no one is looking, productivity ceases.  The sheriff stands around ordering people to do his dirty work and, at the end of the day, you can’t expect people to do things for you, that you wouldn’t do yourself.

Whereas Robin’s men are loyal to the death.  He treats his people as equals, he is kind and obviously a generous person.  People are inspired by his leadership to the point that the very idea of Robin Hood is what has power, the man is no longer necessary.  Robin Hood stands side by side with those who follow him, fighting and bleeding and sacrificing as much if not more of himself… and that is why he always wins.

Inspiration is a far stronger motivator than fear.  Fear is temporary.  Inspiration has a life of its own.

So again, why do “leaders”, “managers”, people in charge resort to acting like tyrants?

More importantly…..how do these people get promoted in the first place?

(Photo by gumuz)