Bullying vs. Leadership

Our departing president wasn’t a leader, but a tyrannical bully. 

Of course, it’s not more bullies that we need in our complicated lives, it’s more good leaders. Through their ability to work well with others, leaders let their example speak for itself and soon, naturally rally their followers to their cause and to their flanks.

Bullies, on the other hand, only know how to exert domination upon others, use intimidation to show who’s the boss and believe they’re entitled to order others. True leaders have people skills and are capable of empathy towards others. They also know how to motivate their troops, unlike bullies that never hesitate to mock and demean people they don’t like. 

Leaders are flexible and smart enough to adapt their communication style to a wide variety of individuals and believe in the abilities of their team members, while bullies only can work with people who worship them and acquiesce to their demands. Besides, bullies hold very low opinions and expectations of everyone but themselves. 

Strong leaders also believe in adopting a transparent style of communication and know how to be assertive when they have to. On the other hand, bullies are secretive, aggressive and play people against each others. It’s also fair to say that leaders have high emotional intelligence, while bullies are just the opposite. 

I’ll conclude with a quote from former Secretary of State and General Colin Powell: “The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them…” This, of course invites this question: Would you ever think of bringing your problems to a bully?