Developing Leadership Abilities

2. Do You Practice “Leadership by Getting Mad?”

Leadership by getting mad (LGM) is closely allied to Theory X principles. A leader who thinks of employees as bad children easily falls into the role of angry parent. By wearing a foul mood for all to see and blustering at every opportunity, the LGM leader tries to drive employees with the stick of anger. To be fair, such anger does produce short-term results. Yell and swear at employees for showing up late for work, and they will indeed start showing up more promptly—until they don’t show up at all, having found what they consider a better job and a better boss. You may be mad inside over employee tardiness, but what you feel should not automatically dictate how you act to achieve your goals. ...