How to recognize fake leaders
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on UnsplashThis is a unique leadership and business post coming from mind, heart, and soul.
I usually write about what leaders do.
For example, I introduce the remarkable characteristics of excellent technology leaders. I also introduce how to recognize distinguished leaders to the valuable News Break readers.
However, in this post, my approach is a bit different. I look at leadership from a different angle to recognize fake leaders. I encapsulated many points under six headings to make it easy to read and learn.
So stay tuned and discover what six things real leaders don't do and how to recognize fake leaders.
As this is not a research paper, I use daily language so that my readers can benefit from this post with minimal effort. Explanations are short because the headings are self-explanatory.
I believe that the fake leaders reflect the attributes of charlatans, shams, hoaxers, fraudsters, mountebanks, and swindlers.
They disguise their motives using tricky methods and raise their voice like a bully.
It is crucial to recognize fake leaders as they resemble sneaky viruses attacking the human immune system. Small viruses don’t have substance. They are not even full organisms, but once they enter the body, they can be toxic, dangerous, and life-threatening.
1 — Real leaders don’t create allegations.
Real leaders are credible.
They are knowledgeable and use credible sources for assessment.
People depend on leaders based on their integrity.
If a person is spreading rumors and allegations, this person is not a leader but a charlatan.
2 — Real leaders don’t create despair.
Real leaders are optimistic, uplifting, and mindful.
They inspire others to think and change positively.
They want others to succeed and support them to enjoy their lives.
If a person is criticizing others and spreading despair and hopelessness, the person is not a leader, but a sham.
3 — Real leaders don’t divide the unity.
Real leaders bring people together by recognizing their unique capabilities.
They focus on the positive aspects of people and encourage collaboration.
If a person is judging others, pushing them away, and blaming them for their misfortunes, especially for their selfish gains, this person is not a leader, but a hoaxer.
4 — Real leaders don’t interfere with the business of others.
Real leaders mind their own business.
They focus on their visions, strategy, and goals.
They don’t stick their nose in the business of other people. Instead, they focus on their own business. Real leaders play their roles and let others worry about them.
If real leaders see issues, they use legal and ethical methods to resolve them. They don’t act in sneaky ways cutting the communication and remediation channels. They don’t headhunt other people’s employees by telling them lies.
If a person keeps interfering in the business of other people and dealing with them unethically, this person is not a leader, but a fraudster.
5 — Real leaders don’t project insecurities.
Real leaders are confident in their capabilities.
They are comfortable in their own skin.
They are emotionally intelligent. Not only are mindful of their emotions, but they also understand the emotional states of others.
Instead of arrogance, they show modesty, humility, and vulnerability.
They don’t project their false being and insecurities on others. They accept their mistakes.
If a person blames others instead of taking personal responsibility, especially with baseless claims and defamation, this person is not a leader, but a mountebank.
6 — Real leaders don’t use double standards.
Real leaders walk their talk.
They don't pretend and mislead.
They don’t use double standards such as blaming others for something but doing exactly the same thing in another form or shape for selfish reasons.
If a person uses double standards, blames others instead of taking personal responsibility, especially with baseless claims and defamation, this person is not a leader, but a swindler.
Conclusion
If a person pretends to be a leader and shows these six characteristics, they are not leaders. They are charlatans, shams, fraudster, hoaxers, mountebanks, and swindlers.
You now have an idea about what real leaders don’t do.
If you want to learn what excellent leaders do, you may check my story titled Remarkable Leadership Traits for Technology Executives.
And if you want to recognize distinguished leaders, you may check my story titled How to Recognize Distinguished Leaders. I met many distinguished leaders and closely worked with them. I discovered their traits through my interactions with mentioned outstanding leaders.
The most important trait I like in leaders are brevity, clarity, and impact which are noticeable in their day to day communication. Their feedback is received with respect and graciously sought after by their followers. They serve as communication mentors and coaches for aspiring leaders.
To summarise, real leaders:
- don’t create allegations.
- don’t create despair
- don’t divide the unity
- don’t interfere with the business of others
- don’t project insecurities
- don’t use double standards
If you see a leader performing these actions, they may not be real leaders.
Thank you for reading my perspectives.