"You Should Have Gone Into Sales"

I still remember the day the new owners of our publishing company walked in, full of big promises. They talked about investing in the sales team, the creative team, and infrastructure. It all sounded great—until one of my fellow editors asked if the content team (you know, the people actually creating the product we sold) would see an increase that year.

The new owner chuckled and said, "Well, if you wanted to make money, you should’ve gone into sales."

Oof.

That one comment told us everything we needed to know about how they saw us—and it wasn’t as a valuable part of the business.

And the ensuing turnover spoke volumes.

It was a defining moment that highlighted the stark difference between good and bad leadership. After all, insulting an entire room of your new employees is hardly the mark of a great leader.

? What a Good Leader Does:

1. Values Every Team Equally – A great leader understands that sales, content, operations, and support all contribute to success. No one part thrives without the others.
2. Invests in People, Not Just Profits – Growth happens when employees feel valued, not dismissed.
3. Communicates with Respect – Even tough financial decisions can be explained with transparency and care.
4. Encourages Collaboration – A strong company culture isn’t built by pitting departments against each other.
5. Understands the Product – If content, service, or product quality declines, so does the business.

? What a Bad Leader Does:

1. Creates a "Us vs. Them" Mentality – Favoring one team over another fosters resentment and disengagement.
2. Ignores Employee Contributions – When people don’t feel valued, they leave (often taking their best work with them).
3. Dismisses Concerns Instead of Addressing Them – A joke at the expense of a team isn’t leadership; it’s a morale killer.
4. Prioritizes Short-Term Gains Over Long-Term Success – Cutting investments in core teams may boost profits temporarily, but it erodes the foundation of the business.
5. Forgets That Culture Matters – The way employees feel about leadership affects performance, retention, and company reputation.

Great leaders don’t just talk about investment—they show it. And they recognize that a thriving business isn’t built on one department’s success, but on a company-wide commitment to excellence.

Share your best foot-in-mouth stories below :)