Autocratic Leadership:
Jerk Leaders & Secrets to High Performance

Part 1, 2

In Part 1 of this Autocratic Leadership article we differentiated between this harmful dictator style and being an imperfect leader sometimes.

My boss from years ago, Tony, could be a jerk sometimes, even so he knew how to engage us and we always felt loyal to him and driven to give our best.

Now I know his 'secret': He had mastered this important leadership skill (from the WUE Leadership skills program C.A.L.L.):

You may be thinking,

"Okay, that skill makes sense. Helping to increase self belief could improve performance and loyalty. I can see that.

But how do I actually do that? And how do I know if I already good at this or if I suck at it?"

Great questions!

Asking your team for feedback will let you know how you are doing. I recommend using a 360 feedback survey to get feedback from your team.

In the 360 Feedback survey your team gives you feedback in these 11 observable and actionable leadership behaviors.

Each behavior is the exact opposite of what someone whopractices the autocratic leadership style would do.

Each communicates to team members that his/her contribution is important.Each action represents what a great leaders do when they are: Cultivating a Positive Sense of Self in Others.

Feedback from your team will reveal autocratic leadership gaps and all of your 'great leader' strengths.

My old boss Tony, even tho' he could be a 'jerk' sometimes would get a 4 or 5 (with 5 being the highest score) on all of these items.

My autocratic leadership boss Beverly (mentioned in Part 1) would get a 1 or 2 (the lowest score possible) on each item..

How would your team rate you? Does the autocratic leadership style sneak in too often? Or, are you an expert like Tony?

1. Establishes trust and creates a non-threatening environment.
2. Helps clarify the roles and expectations for each person on the team.
3. Makes clear how individual roles are important to team success.
4. Offers words of encouragement and positive recognition on a regular basis.
5. When solving problems, asks team members for input.
6. Before giving constructive feedback, affirms the positive contributions of the individual.
7. When needed,helps others overcome difficulties and roadblocks.
8. Encourages others to think and solve problems for themselves.
9. Delegates effectively and provides challenging assignments.
10. Helps team members think about and learn from disappointments and setbacks.
11. When discussing an aspect of performance, asks for the team member's self-evaluation.

Observe yourself in your interactions with team members this week. Are you cultivating a positive sense of self with each team member, in each interaction?

ONLINE TRAINING WORKSHOP:

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Four Skills That Make or Break All Leaders.
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Here are three action steps you can add to your leadership tool chest to ensure that the dictator - autocratic leadership - style does not sneak in...

1. Use the 3:1 ratio.

   One constructive criticism for every three statements of specific praise. Recognition is powerful, powerful, and powerful. Do it more than you're doing now. Watch the difference on your team.

2. Clarify individual roles.

   Develop and share a performance dashboard for each position. This is the top 3-5 focus areas and goals for each job.

   This brings clarity, direction and empowers people with your expectation that they must perform.

   See this online interview mini-workshop that includes a step-by-step process for creating Superior Performance Dashboards.

3. Before you share your input and feedback about an employee's performance, ALWAYS ask their view first.

   This tip is crucial because it:
1. Teaches people to self assess
2. Demonstrates that you care about what they think and how they feel
3. Provides insight for you on that person's level of self awareness
4. Helps the employee become more receptive to feedback
5. With the simple act of asking their view first, you improve the probability that your feedback will be heard and that the employee will take positive action.

Remember This

Would you like to remember the three action steps AND this great leader skill? Click here to download a PDF memory jogger card.

Yes, you can be a 'sometimes jerk' and still be an effective leader.

The 'secret' to avoiding the dictator autocratic leadership moniker is to focus on Cultivating a Positive Sense of Self in Others. Your future business career success, depends on it.

What Do You Think?

Do you agree or disagree? Can leaders be a 'jerk' sometimes and still be an effective leader?

What skill do you think is most important making to sure leaders don't fall into the dictator/autocratic leadership trap?

Have you found actions and behaviors that help you avoid this trap?

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What is Leadership?
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ONLINE TRAINING WORKSHOP:

Do you want to know specifically what you can do and say to create more buy-in & motivation with everyone you interact with?

Find out more about this online mini-workshop now:
Four Skills That Make or Break All Leaders.
Do more of what great leaders do.

Work at your own pace. Immediate access. Click here to check it out.

Effective Workplace Communication -
Communication Template

ANOTHER ONLINE TRAINING WORKSHOP:

Are you tired of putting up with low performance from employees? Do you wish there was a formula you could follow to improve all of your interactions with team members, peers, your boss and clients?

Find out more about this online mini-workshop now:
What Everybody Ought to Know About Effective Workplace Communication
Do more of what great leaders do.

Work at your own pace. Immediate access.
Click here to check it out.

Overview of all Four C.A.L.L. Leadership Skills
Take the Free Online C.A.L.L. Leadership Skill Quiz
Improve Work and Family Relationships: What a Good Coach (& Aunt, Parent, Leader, too) Does
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