The seven deadly sins of leadership

The seven deadly sins (also know as the seven cardinal sins) of Christian theology are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.  I have noticed a number of Internet articles and blog posts listing different reasons and/or characteristics that cause leaders to fail at their job.  While I certainly do not claim originality, here are my "seven deadly sins of leadership" in no particular order:


1.  Duplicity

Duplicity is a great word - it covers hypocrisy, deceit, and fraud.  Leaders should never say one thing in a public forum ("We are going to give everyone raises this year!") and then state the completely opposite thing in private ("There is no way we are going to be able to give everyone a raise this year!").  Say what you mean, and mean what you say.  Leaders engender trust and respect by telling the truth.  Don't lie.  Tell the truth.  More importantly, don't "stretch" the truth by providing incomplete facts - that is just as bad as telling a lie.  Leaders should not accept credit for a successful project that someone else (especially someone on their team) completed.  Leaders should give the credit to their team and accept the blame for when their team fails. 


2.  Otiosity

Otiosity is a great word that essentially means laziness (recall that "sloth" is one of the original seven deadly sins of Christian theology).  Some of the best advice that I have heard - "don't ask someone to do something that you are not willing to do yourself."  Leaders should work just as hard, if not harder, than the rest of the individuals on their team.  Lead by example.  Work hard.  Do not take the easy way, just because it is the easy way.   


3.  Torpidity

Leaders should be enthusiastic.  Leaders should believe in themselves and in their organizations.  Nothing kills progress more than an apathetic leader. 

4.  Truancy

Leaders should be present and in the moment.  There is a commonly used phrase that applies here known as "management by walking around."  Leaders should not spend all of their time in the executive office suite.  Leaders need to "be around" and interacting with the front line employees in the organization.

5.  Melancholy

There is no place for gloominess, pessimism, and negativity in leadership.  Leaders should be optimistic for the future (if they don't think that the organization can succeed, then how can they lead the organization - more importantly why?).  Be positive.  Be optimistic.  Trust that your team will succeed.

6.  Hesitancy

Leaders should not hesitate or be reluctant to make decisions, even risky ones.  As the old saying goes, "He who hesitates is lost."  Indecisiveness leads to lack of confidence, and lack of confidence leads to lack of trust.  Leaders have to be able to make decisions.  "Paralysis by analysis" is not the right approach.  "Extinct by instinct" (making a hasty decision completely based upon a gut reaction) is probably not the right approach either.  There is a balance to be found somewhere between these two opposite extremes.  There will never be time to make a decision with 100% of the facts in front of you - make a decision with the best available evidence and move forward.

7.  Impetuosity

Leaders should not make rash decisions either (see the above comment on "extinct by instinct").  Leaders do not act upon emotions or impulse.  The good leaders remain calm, take account of the situation, carefully weigh options, and act.