| "In real life, the most practical advice for leaders | | | | laissez-faire leadership, while others would argue |
| is not to treat pawns like pawns, nor princes like | | | | that it's non-leadership. Hackman and Johnson, |
| princes, but all persons like persons." | | | | leadership experts, explain that laissez-faire |
| James MacGregor Burns | | | | leadership involves leaders' withdrawal from their |
| What can happen when you work for an | | | | followers and their tendency to offer little |
| uninspiring leader? Frankly, it can't be good. Let's | | | | guidance. Initially, I often felt undervalued because |
| explore the leader-follow relationship in | | | | my supervisor didn't care about my career. |
| organizations. I was blessed to work in a | | | | However, I soon took advantage of this situation. |
| research-oriented organization at the beginning of | | | | I knew I could take risks and make major |
| my career. The work was wonderful but my | | | | decisions for my organization at my entry level. I |
| supervisor wasn't. His staff had seasoned | | | | was amazed. I found myself rarely asking him for |
| professionals except for two people. When I | | | | any guidance. I walked on faith during this process. |
| accepted the job, he informed me that if I | | | | Therefore, employees should stay positive even |
| wanted to do well I was not to bring him any | | | | when working for an ineffective leader. Keep a |
| problems. I had the opportunity to change jobs | | | | positive attitude. Start today! |
| and get promoted. I asked this supervisor what | | | | Reference: |
| should be done. He said, "Stay put. Down make a | | | | Hackman, M. and Johnson, C. (2004). Leadership: A |
| move." You can imagine he wasn't very helpful in | | | | Communication Perspective. Long Grove, IL: |
| my career development. | | | | Waveland Press, Inc. |
| Unfortunately, this leadership style can wreck a | | | | © 2006 by Daryl D. |
| leader-follow relationship. Scholars call this style | | | | |