A Commitment to Values

'If there is any lesson to be learned from the economic morass in which we now find ourselves, and into which we have been plunged by an army of amoral numbskulls, it is that it is not wealth, or size, or fame that matter but a commitment to values that transcend the blind pursuit of the buck and what it buys.'

Mickey Edwards spent 16 years in Congress and 16 years teaching at Harvard and Princeton. He is a director of The Constitution Project and wrote Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost--And How It Can Find Its Way Back.

A Commitment to Values

Avoiding the Tendencies of Poor Leaders

Being the leader is hard, especially when you need to counter the natural tendencies that separate you from the people you manage. Knowing what these propensities are can help you avoid them. 

Here are our top three to watch out for:

1. Self-deluding. This isn't just a problem with bosses; the majority of people estimate their skills to be higher than they are in reality. Be aware that you might be self-aggrandising and find ways to get input and evaluations that show you what your true skills are.
2. Heedless of subordinates. Those in positions of power are watched carefully by those under them. But that level of attention is not reciprocated. When you become the head honcho, don't forget to remain curious about and engaged with your direct reports.
3. Insulated from reality. No one wants to deliver bad news to the boss, so the boss often doesn't know the full story. Create a culture in which the messenger isn't shot, but lauded for bringing important information forward.

Avoiding the Tendencies of Poor Leaders