259. The 10 Habits of Highly Ineffective Leaders

As it turns out, it is completely legal for school teachers to use electric shock on disabled students in the United States.

Who knew?

Actually, let me clarify.

It was legal to use electric shock until the year 2020. That was the year the FDA finally decided that, hey, maybe it’s a bad idea to physically abuse defenseless children.

But fear not all you parents who think a little zaperoni will keep your disabled kid in line because it only took 1 year for a federal appeals court to overturn the ruling.

In 2021, it became legal again for educators to use electric shock.Whew.

I mean how else are teachers supposed to teach disabled students if not with a cattle prod? I can’t possibly think of another way.

As my grandmother always said:

“If it’s good enough for a prison riot, it’s good enough for our schools.”

If you’re one of the people who is actually happy about the electric shock treatment, you’ll also get giddy when you hear that corporal punishment in schools is still legal in 23 states. This means that teachers can hit, punch, spank or slap students. Well, as long as another adult is around to witness it.

I’m not sure if popcorn is recommended.

Unfortunately, it is highly illegal for a student to hit a teacher. Hitting a teacher is considered battery and it’ll get your kid into a whopper of a pickle.

I tell you this so you can make sure your kid knows not to fight back the next time they get walloped by a teacher. We don’t want them to miss any school, do we?

You’re welcome.

Incidentally, the only two places in Europe where corporal punishment is allowed in schools are Vatican City (which is a moot point because they don’t have schools anyway) and Transnistria, which is a country you’ve never heard of because it’s not recognized as a country by anybody except maybe it’s 365k residents – and I’m not sure they even care.

I tell you all this for a specific reason. But I will get to that in a minute.

There are still some things we need to get clear about the beating and shocking of defenseless children.

The Benefits of a Good Beating

According to the FDA, there are no long-term benefits of using electric shock on students. However, studies have found that the abuse often leads to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. That is, in addition to the pain and bodily damage, of course.

So let’s recap where we are:

• Pros for electric shock: none
• Cons for electric shock: a whole crap ton.

In the words of the author Pearl Buck:

“The test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its most helpless members.”

It turns out, we probably failed that test.

The Test Of A Company

Despite your desire to pummel some of your colleagues for the ridiculous things they say, you’re not allowed to. Though corporal punishment is legal in some schools, it is illegal in the workplace.

[Editor’s Note: Hey, if a couple of pieces of Ex-Lax end up in the chocolate box, I know nothing]

In my business consulting role, I’ve seen far too many poor company cultures. I can assure you, it doesn’t take electric shock or beatings to create an unhealthy work environment.

All it takes is one bad leader.

One bad leader could turn long-lasting success into an overnight failure. And one bad leader could cause employees to experience the very same stress, anxiety and depressive outcomes that are elicited by electric shock.

Bad leadership is a cattle prod to the soul of a company culture.

The good news is that we can identify the traits of a bad leader so you can recognize it before it gets too far.

The bad news is that it’s gonna take a concerted effort, and perhaps one step short of corporal punishment, to turn many of them around.

But I believe in you. And gosh-dangit, you can do hard things.

So let me introduce you to The 10 Habits of Highly Ineffective Leaders.

Special insider tip: As you read through these, think of how they apply to yourself and your boss. Then take the free assessment here.

The 10 Habits of Highly Ineffective Leaders

1. Lack of Vision

A company/department without a vision is like a car with no gas. You either stand still or quickly go downhill.

2. Poor Communication

Here’s a tip: employees don’t actually have ESP. They can’t read your mind and they don’t want to try.

3. Micromanagement

If you keep looking over their shoulders you’ll eventually end up with a pencil embedded in your leg.

4. Inefficient Decision-Making

If you keep circling the roundabout because you can’t decide which road to turn down, all your passengers will eventually get frustrated and jump out of the car. Capisce?

5. Avoidance of Conflict

Because you close your eyes doesn’t mean the conflict goes away. Didn’t we learn that in pre-school?

6. Terrible Listening

I’m sorry, did you say something?

7. Resistance to Change

Progress happens with change. Sometimes small change, sometimes big.It’s simple: No change, no progress.

8. Playing Favorites

We played favorites with our high school cliques. You’re not in high school anymore. It’s time to pull up to the big leaders’ table.

9. Lack of Accountability

If everybody gets to decide what is the priority, then nothing is the priority.

10. Lack of Integrity

Lying, cheating and backstabbing make for a great Scorcese movie, not so much for a good work environment.

Stop The Ineffective Leadership

The bottom line is that we need to stop irrational behavior at work, just like we have to stop irrational beatings at schools.

Bad leadership is a big problem, not just for the health of the company’s growth, but for the health and wellness of its employees.

Let’s not let it beat us down.

[Editor’s note: I see what you did there]