1.
5 Triumphs of Lousy Leaders
(In Their Own Mind)
Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
This is the third article in a trilogy on Lousy Leaders: first, The 7 Habits of Lousy Leaders and
second, The 5 Secrets of Lousy Leaders.
Why choose the topic of Lousy Leaders? Most of us say that we want to follow the Great
Leaders, that we struggle to find Great Leaders with character, who care about people and their
organizations. However, we say that those who are most prominent are the leaders who only
support themselves and want to satiate hidden desires of power, acquisition, recognition, and
accolades for themselves. One of the problems with Lousy Leaders is how they acquire their
positions! Maybe accepting Lousy Leaders is part of a new standard in our new society. Society
appears to support or create a level of leadership acceptance. Chosen leaders seem to replicate
and be predicated on our society. Based on this idea, we are a society in turmoil and one of
divisiveness. Do you think Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt or Churchill would thrive in this society?
Do we, in actuality, support Great Leadership whose proponents exhibit visionary competence,
integrity, morality, inclusive growth and development of followers, fairness, and humanistic care
of others? Or, do we support the acceptance of political pandering and the desire to have some
kind of tribal loyalty, even if it is to a Lousy Leader? In this age of emotional isolation brought
about by over-reliance on devices, belonging to something, anything, gives people a group
identity, the “us versus them” ideology.
A lousy leader will seize upon those divisions, urging members on with lies and falsehoods.
These leaders are a distraction to the logical, calm, humane, and visionary leaders and followers.

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Do you realize the amount of effort and money that goes into fixing problems of Lousy Leaders?
The chaotic turmoil they create and the hurt they cause to people within the workplace and
society can be insurmountable. I used the word triumph in the title because Lousy Leaders
believe they are successful without any acknowledgement or acceptance of the help they
received along the way, nor of the destruction they create. The Lousy Leaders believe they are
the epitome of success because they have no self-understanding or regulation. The Lousy
Leaders simply do not know that they are the worst leaders, because to recognize a flaw in
themselves would take self-reflection, something they do not do.
Let’s examine the word triumph. Triumph is an act or occasion of winning, being victorious, or
overcoming something. Lousy Leaders, because they have no self-reflecting mental filter,
believe they are great leaders. Lousy Leaders do not give themselves true and thoughtful
feedback on the reality of the situation. The definition of a Lousy Leader could be an intimidator
who accuses, does not develop followers, doesn’t listen, is not organized, presents no vision,
does not build relationships, takes credit for everyone’s work, does not motivate, has no self-
reflection mode, and is an impromptu and unstructured speaker. This Lousy Leader keeps
subservient supporters while talented followers leave at a rapid clip. The Lousy Leaders stay,
creating more havoc, moving from one irrational act to another. The Lousy Leader has little to no
understanding of what it takes to lead.
Actions of the Triumphant Lousy Leader:
· Keep people in the dark so they do not know what to expect (mushroom) (I’ll give you my
decision next Friday)
· Keep people afraid to take action (don’t think for themselves) (If I do this, I will be publicly
berated)
· Keep people near who heap praise on them and defend them at any cost (not deserved) (No,
that is not what he/she meant, he/she would not say that)
Tricks of the Triumphant Lousy Leader:
1. Impromptu speaker who says what people want to hear
2. Promises action that never occurs (no follow thru)
3. Discredits the work of others, stating he/she could have done it better
4. Befriends the Rich and Famous
5. Promotes Subservient Followers
#1: Impromptu Speaker

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Triumphant Lousy Leaders speak off the top of their heads with no forethought of outcome or
consequences to their statements. They do not communicate a vision with clarity, just actions
without a thought of where those actions will lead. The Lousy Leader is an impromptu speaker,
making global statements without details. Lousy Leaders do not have a step-by-step approach to
accomplish key goals. The Lousy Leader speaks in holistic terms that lead to emotional
outcomes with little specifics. As a matter of fact, these Lousy leaders thrive on emotion at a
base level. Lousy leaders continue doing and saying anything that comes to mind, ignoring any
ramifications they might set in motion. This impromptu communication has moments of
emotional response without any clear idea on the consequential outcomes.
Great leaders have always had a structured message that is clear, concise and credible. They tend
to have a very measure presentation of ideas that leads to a vision that triggers both clarity and
action. They are intentional about how much detail to give to support the accomplishments all
have achieved. They present their points with clear possibilities so followers understand the
importance of taking actions that will lead to the goals.
#2: Promises of Action that Never Occur (no follow thru)
Triumphant Lousy Leaders will say whatever they like at any given time because there is no
standard of follow through to measure their promised vision. The lousy leader is superficial in
thought and language. They seem to have an ability to connect with some people while others
detest them. We see this with political leaders regardless of political affiliation. Based on the
Lousy Leader’s promises, what actual rewards do the followers acquire? The ardent followers
believe they have received reward because the Leader says so! The promises are made not as acts
of achievable milestones, but rather as statements at the moment to receive applause and
personal praise.
Great leaders do not make promises: they take action. Leadership is based on communication.
How can anyone lead without communication? Great Leaders are people of action and of
commitment and they confidently follow through on statements made. Great leaders create the
ideal of support, wanting to build organizations that will be better off than before their leadership
reign and develop followers to sustain that organizational growth.
#3: Discrediting others work
Lousy Leaders have perfected the twenty-twenty-hind sight comment. They roundly critique the
actions of past leaders, without providing substantive solutions. They don’t learn from the
past: they don’t know history. Lousy Leaders are focused on the past, and complain about what
others have done. They do not really target actions for the present or the future.
Great leaders know that struggle before making difficult decisions is a good thing. Great Leaders
know focusing on the past is a waste of time and energy unless it is for learning. Leaders focused
on the present are immediate and may or may not accomplish what is intended. Leaders focused
on the future can set a course of action that can be measured and followed.

4.
Great leaders ask questions as to why not and draw out follower’s thoughts and feelings to
collect input. They engage followers so they have involvement in decisions and feel part of the
process and not excluded.
#4: Pictures with Rich and Famous
Have you ever walked into a Lousy Leader’s office that looks like a shrine to the rich and
famous? At a glance you can see pictures with political leaders, pictures on the golf course with
famous athletes. Lousy Leaders have pictures at charity events dressed in gowns and tuxes with a
few other chosen Lousy Leaders. There is nothing inherently wrong with these pictures;
however, the Lousy Leaders use the montage as proof that they are great leaders. Instead of
supporting followers, establishing organizational vision and milestones, engaging employees and
mentoring followers, Lousy Leaders create an aura of fantasy by constructing a fake image of
who they are because of a few pictures with the rich and famous. “I am whom I am pictured
with” is hubris at the high end of fake leadership. Great leaders know that the success of their
organization depends on the employees and builds relationships with them. These leaders don’t
need to rely on fake prestige. Great Leaders spend time with employees engaging them, not
attending external engagements only to be seen with the rich and famous.
#5: Pleasing the Lousy Leader
Lousy leaders create a mystique of being special and, therefore, need to be accommodated,
pleased, and catered to. They are benevolent to some and hated by others. They have a knack of
building anticipation as to what they will do next. They concoct an aura of importance around
themselves. They let others know all they are doing (and will be doing) and people are in awe.
However, when examined, what is actually being accomplished amounts to very little. If Lousy
Leaders have a gift, it is the skill to cause others to admire, and even idolize them. Lousy
Leaders possess a talent for having others put an undeserved value on them. The real value is
based in the perception they have created about themselves with little actual specific
accomplishments. We all need to step back and ask logical and rational questions as to why we
put a value on any leader. What has that leader we value done or accomplished? Sometimes, with
some introspection, we may find that we are caught in Group Think frenzy.
Great Leaders have a message of hope and direction. They help followers know where they are
going and what they will be doing together. Great Leaders inspire a new hope of the future.
Great leaders inspire people to want to work together. Great leaders are humble and caring of
their followers. Great leaders are goal directed; are able to support different personalities in
creating a culture of accountability; can clearly communicate a positive message, treat people
fairly and respectfully, and let people know that they are valued.
Summary: Lousy Leaders can bring out the worse in followers and peers. People start to walk
on eggshells and there is a loss of morale. Lousy Leaders thrive on chaos and keeping people off
balance. They actually want people off balance and not focused on achievable outcomes, because
if their followers focused on those goals and outcomes, the leaders would not only have to
recognize others for those achievements, but would also have to actually have accomplished
something.

5.
The workplace should be an opportunity in which people can demonstrate their gifts and talents.
It should not be only a competitive place where some make more money than others and achieve
personal power. Yes, there are people who have less talent who make more money. Yes, there
are bad people who become Lousy Leaders and use their positions for personal power and self-
gain while hurting others. But good leaders need to stay on balance and on point for themselves,
explore their own talents, and achieve and fulfill themselves to become what they are capable of
becoming. Leaders should stay focused on the goodness of self and others. A position is not a
destination: it is only a temporary condition of employment. Leaders need to fulfill themselves
through what they do and how they work. A shoeshine man in the airport motivated me to have
an inspired day because of his laugh and stories that were contagious. What a talent to find
fulfillment in what you do!
Thank you for reading this article. Please like or share with your network.
Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
President
Gatto Associates LLC.
412 344-2277 (Office)
www.rexgatto.com
rex@rexgatto.com