The WYSIWYG dilemma with Leaders

WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get.

In the corporate world, leaders often present an enticing facade to attract talent to their teams from within the firm.

However, the reality can be quite different once you've made the move. This article explores the phenomenon of two-faced leadership and offers insights into making informed career decisions within a company. Because many times What You See is NOT What You Get.

Background Checks: Of course!! Before making a move within your company, it's crucial to conduct thorough background checks on the leaders and their teams. This includes seeking input from existing team members, who may provide diplomatic responses; so handle with a pinch of salt. Its better to seek feedback from individuals who have left the team, as they may offer more candid perspectives, but this also could have some vindictive slant at times. Overall its essential to take feedback and make informed decisions.

Now let me get into what I mean by the Two Faced behavior of leaders with examples.

The Nitpicker vs. The Attention to Detail Leader: Leaders who excessively focus on minor details without providing substantial value may hinder the growth of driven individuals. Drawing the line between attention to detail and nitpicking is essential for a healthy work environment. The NitPicker is forever focused on the C & D grade items and misses the A & B items on the task list.

The Micromanager: S/he is different from the NitPicker.

"What time did you log in today?"

"Where are you just now, I can hear some different noises in the background?"

"Please keep your camera on?"

I hope you get the drift?

This behavior can stifle creativity and strategic thinking, turning the focus away from impactful contributions to mundane details.

Overzealous Leadership: Overzealous leaders want to look good in front of their bosses so much that they kill you in the process. So if Big Boss asks for 1-2-3-4, the overzealous leader will ask you for 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9. Recognizing when a leader is unreasonably overburdening their team is crucial for maintaining a balanced work-life dynamic.

Leader without Empathy: Leaders who lack empathy may prioritize tasks over employee well-being. This can manifest in insensitive requests, such as demanding a video call when a team member is facing personal challenges. Or not allowing personal time off and insisting on deadlines which can realistically be handled by someone else.

So friends, before you rush to say, "I DO' please conduct thorough background checks, seek diverse perspectives, and be vigilant for warning signs about your future boss. This will empower you to make choices aligned with both your professional growth and overall well-being.

I have seen scores of colleagues who made choices based on the external facing Dr. Jekyll persona, only discover the Mr. Hyde much later.