How to Lose Influence and Frustrate People
How Bad Bosses Make the Best Teachers (No, Seriously)
Let’s be honest—experiencing poor leadership is like being stuck on a never-ending group project with someone who thinks “vision” means staring blankly at their inbox. It’s frustrating. It's discouraging. And sometimes it feels like you’re living in an episode of What Not To Do: Workplace Edition.
But here’s the twist: those painful, awkward, head-scratching experiences? They can actually become your greatest leadership training ground—if you let them.
Think about it. Sitting under a leader who micromanages every tiny task (including how you organize your desk) is a crash course in the importance of trust and autonomy. Watching a leader avoid feedback like it’s a contagious disease? That teaches you just how vital clear, constructive communication really is.
Poor leadership shows you all the wrong turns so you can recognize the right ones. It forces you to reflect: What kind of leader do I want to be? Do I want to inspire or just instruct? Do I want to lead with empathy—or with a spreadsheet?
And here’s the bonus: bad leadership often pushes you to rise to the occasion. Maybe you’ve had to be the unofficial encourager in your team. Maybe you stepped up to organize what your leader wouldn’t. Guess what? That’s real leadership. That’s initiative. That’s learning how to lead from the middle.
Eventually, all those facepalm-worthy moments build something important—resilience, wisdom, and a better understanding of what it means to actually lead people well.
So, the next time you’re tempted to scream into your coffee mug because your leader just held another two-hour meeting with zero direction, take a breath. Take notes. Because one day, when you're leading your own team, you’ll remember how not to do it—and your people will thank you.
Your Move:
Been there? Done that? Still recovering from the trauma of bad leadership? Share your story in the comments—or shoot me a message. Let’s trade tales, learn from the chaos, and raise the bar on what leadership should look like.
