The Differences Between a Good or Bad Leader: How YOU Can Become One or Another

A good leader inspires growth, while a bad leader stifles potential.

Good leaders are proactive and prepared. They take initiative on responsibilities and are resourceful. They know their industry, direction, role, and team. Leading from an unshakeable, settled sense of self, they take on additional responsibility and measure success based on the team's achievements, not their own. Excuses are not part of their vocabulary.

On the other hand, bad leaders are reactive and ill-prepared. They reject responsibility and are filled with excuses — not enough support, a difficult boss, an uncooperative team, or personal issues. They have to be told what to do.

Good leaders lead by personal influence and example. They don’t demand allegiance or unilateral loyalty but rather influence action from a humble-yet-confident posture. Bad leaders lead by title and dictation, demanding work done their way and refusing to relinquish control. They project outward confidence to mask deep insecurity.

When good leaders experience a win, they share the victory; when they experience a loss, they take sole responsibility. Conversely, bad leaders cling to anything appearing to be a win and spread blame when losses occur.

Good leaders focus on vision, mission, and values that benefit the whole. Bad leaders focus on personal achievement that benefits themselves. Good leaders carve out intentional time to focus on important but not urgent matters. Bad leaders only see the urgent and often don't understand what is truly important.

Good leaders lead with a strong internal compass, while bad leaders require a map created by someone else. Good leaders delegate ownership and responsibility; bad leaders delegate tasks and deadlines. Good leaders start with "why" and spend time clearly defining "what" needs to be accomplished. Bad leaders focus too much on the "how," often needing it figured out for themselves.

Good leaders communicate quickly and clearly, understanding that effectiveness with people is more important than efficiency with things. Bad leaders are unreliable and unresponsive, centering themselves around instant personal gratification and escapism. They focus on task stability rather than people dynamics.

Good leaders highly value discipline, creating rhythms and routines to expand their effectiveness in all areas of life. They reflect on daily events and take steps to learn and grow. Bad leaders find discipline foolish and boring, preferring escapism through video games or binge-watching shows, content with stagnation.

Good leaders think about how to multiply and grow the people around them. Bad leaders think about how they can use people to advance themselves. Good leaders demand the best from their teams, working from a mindset of excellence. Bad leaders settle for mediocrity, allowing A players to devolve into C players.

Good leaders prioritize things that matter, taking charge of directional opportunities that can be realistically executed. Bad leaders focus on the next crisis or task on the list, letting their team work on whatever feels good without regard to the organization's greater benefit.

Good leaders make people feel like anything is possible, while bad leaders make people feel stuck with no way out. Good leaders humble themselves and serve others to help their team flourish. Bad leaders take control and demand service to get ahead.

The world desperately needs more good leaders. Will you be one?

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