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Kathleen Weber's avatar

Here's how they could explain it. The best boss understands what needs to get done, but they have a calm and considerate way of communicating with people. a mean boss has hard power and nothing else. the best bosses have both the hard power to fire you and the soft power to support you.

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SandyG's avatar

Agree, Kathleen. Good management is two-headed. When I worked in the private sector, I got a lot of management training. I remember an x and y graph that explained good management of employees: The relationship is on one axis and the task to be done is on the other. You want both.

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Howard Covert's avatar

It's great this came up. I've tried to explain how in so many ways Trump falls short if viewed as a leader/manager.

A good leader:

Articulates visions that inspire his/her team

Listens and empathizes

Speaks truth - especially to power

Holds him/herself accountable

Credits others for the success of his/her team

Welcomes and even seeks out those who disagree with him/her

Plans several steps ahead

Challenges his/her core beliefs

Challenges the assumptions behind his decisions

Trump falls laughably short - EXCEPT on the vision piece - and in a very specific way.

He is excellent at reading his audience and selling them on something. The power of the Trump narrative - even if based on complete BS - boggles my mind.

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