True Leaders Don’t Want “Yes Men”

Posted by Scott Williams
4 Comments
August 3, 2010
Leaders | Leadership | Next-Level Leader

We have all worked in environments where we observe, work for, or work with “Yes Men or Yes Women.”   Being a “Yes Man” is not a good thing, as a matter of fact having nothing but a bunch of “Yes Men” around is the opposite of true leadership.

True leaders want people around them that will challenge them, speak the truth and just be themselves.  True leaders will never substitute a candid environment for the lack of excellence.  Instead, they expect the people around them to be open and honest, perform at a high-level and grow to become a next-level leader.

The sad thing about “Yes Men” is that most of them don’t go into an organization as “Yes Men.”  Often times a weak, insecure, micro-management, dictatorship, brown-nosing type environment can turn gifted leaders into gifted “Yes Men.”

True leaders create environments where genuine dialogue can occur and that’s when some of the most innovative ideas will surface.  True leaders create environments where other true leaders can flourish.  True Leaders Don’t Want “Yes Men,” instead they would prefer to have people around them that will keep it real and tell them the truth even at the risk of losing their job.

True leadership is not about denigrating and dictating, it’s about delegating, conversating and celebrating.

Share your thoughts and experiences with Yes Men, Yes Women and overall Yes environments.

  • http://www.marcmillan.com Marc Millan

    I’m with you 100% on this one bro, you say it perfectly here “True leaders create environments where other true leaders can flourish.” Fear steps in at some point and I think on both ends too.
    Both the Higher leader is afraid OR insecure of those around them therefore the culture becomes so afraid to “speak up” or challenge the ideas in a healthy way, the leaders under or around suffer from this type of culture and end up locking up their instincts as leaders, resulting in what I can “fake it to make it mode” or some call it, “going with the flow” or the most popular one I hear this days is “Just don’t rock the boat”.
    M_

  • Paul Wilson

    I read this book from an old professor I had about finding a good #2 person, “Looking out for #2.” It agrees with your point that true leaders don’t want “yes” people. Leaders love to work with other leaders. Leaders should look for people in their organization that will take initiative and think like an owner. The book goes onto talking about how to recruit, develop, and retain someone you can depend on to act for you in your absence.

    I like the point you make about the overall culture and how it changes people into that “yes” mentality. It is true that something happens to people to convert them from well-meaning and capable employees into the “yes” drones that work hard to not be noticed.

  • http://tijuanabecky.livingproof.us/ Becky

    I like the part about true leaders wanting people around them to challenge them. I think part of being a leader is growing and continuing to learn.

  • Jack

    I think this phrase is the key: “tell them the truth even at the risk of losing their job”. There should be no negative consequence of challenging an idea*, and certainly not the risk of losing one’s job.

    Egos have to be checked at the door (more important the higher one is in the organization). One must also check the urge to “be right” (probably related to ego, but worth pointing out separately).

    Ultimately, the best version of an idea, or the best version of a better idea, with conceivable risks known (and hopefully contingency plans in place), is what we want.

    Clearly, leaders must lead, even in the face of opposition, and many times in the face of overwhelming circumstances. But being challenged makes one a better leader.

    *Challenge should be done respectfully, of course, not attacking a person.

Designed by EightDay Studio. Powered by the Standard Theme. Developed by Milk Engine.