Does Leadership Really Matter?

 In the film, Horrible Bosses, it is highlighted why leadership matters so much in any workplace. Leaders who lead well, will lead to empower and inspire, but the bosses in this movie help us see how some bosses create fear and resentment. 

This cautionary tale, helps remind the audience that leadership is about responsibility and empathy. Without these traits, leaders make everyone around them miserable and they will fail. A couple of reasons for failure are:

Leadership doesn't take ownership or responsibility. Great leaders take full responsibility for what their followers do under their leadership. Trust is a huge aspect when it comes to leading a group of people. When leaders refused to take accountability for their mistakes, their teams will feel unsupported. Being a true leader means owning up to all mistakes. 

Employees live in fear of failing and making mistakes. When people are afraid for being punished for their mistakes, they stop bringing creative solutions to the table. Great leaders create mental safety for their followers, and giving encouragement that mistakes are learning opportunities. 

The work environment is a “gotcha” environment. The "gotcha" environment creates distrust and defensiveness. Employees are always worried about being caught if they make mistakes rather than focus on growth. This also ultimately crushes, teamwork and communication leading to a very unhealthy work environment. As said before a healthy work environment should be encouraging, especially when making errors.

Works Cited: 

Harris, T. R., & About The Author      Thomas R. Harris  Thomas is the owner of The Exceptional Skills. He has taught and worked in K-12. (2023, December 12). 25 major signs of leadership failure - tes. The Exceptional Skills. https://www.theexceptionalskills.com/signs-leadership-failure/