The author and Let’s See Labs founder discusses what can be done when a company generates bad leadership – and how it can turn around its misfortune.
So many people are departing their jobs for greener pastures – but why? Some may say it’s the nature of the company, but sometimes, bad leadership is to blame. After all, people have said, “People don’t leave bad companies. They leave bad managers.”
It happens more often than you might think. The board could easily decide on having the wrong person in charge (probably due to a personal decision or thinking they deserve the role), or simply assign someone that’s more concerned about the direction of the company rather than the people that work for it.
An article over on Association of Equipment Manufacturers discusses how to reverse troubles with bad leadership, mainly with introducing skills and tactics and finding a better person suited for the job. But one big step stands out to author Gareth Gwyn – “Look inward.” It’s where a troubled leader can take a good look at their performance and what they bring to the table, and where they can improve before they lose crucial employees. (Or, at the very least, educate a company in seeing where the leadership went wrong and take heart in finding someone better for the role.)
Gareth Gwyn is the author of You Are Us: How To Build Bridges In a Polarized World. In this book, she discusses real stories based on candid accounts of stereotypically vilified and victimized individuals, which, in turn, provide insight into uncovering our opportunities for inner change. In addition, Gareth also created Let’s See Labs an enterprise focused on the sociocultural transformation of individuals through a number of interactive means. These include film, writing and team workshops; and with these, people can unlock and uncover what lies at the common heart of leadership.
Gareth joins us now to discuss how someone can come back from bad leadership – or how a company can learn from crucial mistakes before it’s too late.
Q&A:
- What do you believe is the biggest de-motivator when it comes to a leader not being up to their expected performance? Focusing too much on one area of the business instead of the employees? Being too greedy for their own good? Or is it a combination of these things?
- Do you think assigning a bad leader is something some companies do naturally? Such as with a choice within a family-owned business or preferential treatment or “favorites”?
- In your eyes, what’s the best qualities to look for when it comes to good leadership?
- What’s the biggest warning to watch out for when it comes to bad leadership?
- Why are some companies hesitant in getting rid of a leader or manager that doesn’t live up to their potential? Cost? Or fear that their employees may see them differently?
- You founded Let’s See Labs, a series of online courses that can help people get useful learning to become a better leader. How did you put these courses together, and who would you say they’re best for?
- Are you looking for any sort of pre-requisites when people register for courses at Let’s See Labs? Or is everyone welcome?
- You’ve also written the book You Are Us: How To Build Bridges In a Polarized World. Tell us more about it and what people can learn from it to become a better leader.
- Do you have a preference for teaching your classes? Is online much easier than trying to educate someone in person? Or do you prefer it the other way around?
- Where can we learn more about You Are Us and the workshops?
The book is available for purchase here on Amazon; and you can find more information on everything we do with Let’s See Labs over on BuildBridges.US!
About Gareth Gwyn…
Gareth Gwyn is committed to establishing a new global vision of leadership founded on self-inquiry and restorative practices. She is the author of You Are Us: How to Build Bridges in a Polarized World, a book woven with real stories that explore how we can each help bridge our cultural divides regardless of who we are and where we came from. She is also the founder of Let’s See Labs, an organization that produces films, writing, and team workshops that facilitate sociocultural transformation at the individual level by embracing creative polarity. Gareth earned her MA in Digital Communication at the School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
CONTACT: To schedule an interview, contact Jerry McGlothlin of Special Guests PR Agency at 919-437-0001 or geraldmcg@outlook.com.
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