As a partner, do you want to be a leader nobody cares for? One that frustrates the living daylights out of your team?

What am I talking about? I bet you actually already know it.

I remember being on vacation as a younger partner. I’d been on my morning run, just crossing that little bridge spanning the river Sarca before it flows into Lake Garda, when my phone rang.

Silly me, I was carrying it to listen to music.

I answered the call…

It was my lead partner. Telling me that one of my managers had seen him yesterday.

And there was a problem: I had been too direct!

I remembered. I had pointed out that we had to meet existing contractual obligations before volunteering for new work at a client. And it had upset my manager.

The story unfolded in my ears – It seemed my lead partner had felt the need to agree with the manager.

I kept listening, getting hot as the sun started to get more intense.

Finally, I was able to get a word in:

“So, what did you tell him?”

“Well, I told him that you would call him,” said my lead partner.

“Right!” I thought.

And I remember thinking: the world doesn’t need any more leaders who take sides without knowing the facts.

Leaders who haven’t got their team members’ backs.

It turned out my lead partner was one of these kinds of ‘leaders’.

Those that bring to bear certain ingredients and qualities we all cherish so much:

• Not listening
• Always chiming in
• Knowing it all
• Being always distracted when you talk to them.

I bet you have met these kinds of leaders too. Maybe repeatedly.

And what happens…?

Make sure you are not leading like this or others will stop caring about you.

How are you at Leading Up? This is one of the essential PartnerPowers. Take my quick scorecard test to see how you are doing.