I awoke this morning with Jeff Foxworthy on my mind. Foxworthy is a stand-up comedian, a part of the Blue Collar Comedy tour, the author of four books, an actor in thirteen movies and thirty-six television shows and series, and counting. What I remember him for is the way he created humor from a slur that Northern city folk threw at rural Southerners.

n

u201cIf. . . you have more cars in your driveway. . . and u2018specially more wrecked cars on your front lawn . . . than you have people in your houseu00a0 u00a0 u00a0. . . you might be . . . a redneck.u201d

n

Foxworthy took a derogatory term, owned it himself, got his audience to laugh, while admitting that they u201cmight be a rednecku201d. . . and feel pride and maybe clean the front lawn. Quite a feat.

n

But why I woke up thinking about Jeff Foxworthy related more to leadership and management.

n

u201cEveryone thinks theyu2019re a leader; nobody wants to manage or be managed. Everyone here has a u2018vision,u2019 but shit ainu2019t getting done!u201d

n

I remember my clientu2019s frustration. His post-merger integration wasnu2019t going according to plan. He wasnu2019t handling it well. He did put his finger on the difference between two distinct skillsets, leadership and management. Leaders clarify direction and attract followers; managers get shit done. In business, and especially in change you need both skillsets.

n

If you read articles in the business press, or the books of numerous business professors, or dilletante blogs (including this one), youu2019ll read plenty of words like:

n

u201cVision, mission, values,u00a0 Clarity, discipline, accountability, development,

n

recognition and reward, gratitude, empathy, loyalty, trust, caring, service,

n

inspiration, empowerment, commitment, personal responsibility, example,

n

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, and so on and so forth.u201d

n

And if you read social media about peopleu2019s experiences at work, sure, there are some laudatory posts about so-and-so u201cwho changed my lifeu201d that use words like those above, but all too frequently you read the misfortunes of the misled and mismanaged using words like:

n

u201cJerk, narcissist, egomaniac, asshole, psychopath, bastard, sociopath, bitch, autocrat, jackass or some variant from the following matrix:

n

Apparently too many leaders and managers just donu2019t know they are the BadBoss and canu2019t laugh at their own foibles to begin the process of change.

n

So I thought Iu2019d try a Foxworthy:

n

If . . . no one can do anything as well as you can, . . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . youu2019re ALWAYS in the office or plant after everyone else has gone home,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss

n

If . . . everyone . . . gives you compliments . . . and laughs at ALL your jokes, . . .

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . . you u201chave no problem with the tough jobsu201d like squeezing a supplier or letting people go,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . .u00a0 people stop their conversations to greet you . . . EVERY time you walk into a room,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . people always have an answer for any negative variance from budget,

n

and you have very few conversations when things are going well,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . . youu2019re NEVER the last one to leave work, and your golf handicap is coming down,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . u201cMy door is always openu201du00a0 is a regular phrase in your work vocabulary,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If you NEVER hear bad news until itu2019s BAD and then they tell you as a team from across the room,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . you often hear yourself say u201cWhere did you get that idea?u201d or u201cThatu2019s not what I meant!u201d

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . . every time you say something nice, people stand around awkwardly. . . waiting for the u201cbutu201d

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If your team ALWAYS sets u201cstretch goalsu201d that they NEVER make,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . people always do what you want, sure maybe you have to scowl like youu2019re about to explode, but youu2019ve mastered that skill and, in the end, they always do what you want,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . you hear yourself say. . . u201cYou know, itu2019s always the same people who do all the special projects,u201d . . . and then you realize. . . u201cthey didnu2019t volunteer, I picked them,u201d

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . .u00a0 your door is always closed. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . you say, u201cThis way gang, letu2019s gou201d. . . and you look over your shoulder and no oneu2019s there, u2026 you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

n

If . . . youu2019re the boss, and there was any u201couchu201d in your laughter, as Jeff Foxworthy would say:

n

n

u201cCheck Your Neck.u201d

“,”tablet”:”

I awoke this morning with Jeff Foxworthy on my mind. Foxworthy is a stand-up comedian, a part of the Blue Collar Comedy tour, the author of four books, an actor in thirteen movies and thirty-six television shows and series, and counting. What I remember him for is the way he created humor from a slur that Northern city folk threw at rural Southerners.

n

u201cIf. . . you have more cars in your driveway. . . and u2018specially more wrecked cars on your front lawn . . . than you have people in your house . . . you might be . . . a redneck.u201d

n

Foxworthy took a derogatory term, owned it himself, got his audience to laugh, while admitting that they u201cmight be a rednecku201d. . . and feel pride and maybe clean the front lawn. Quite a feat.

n

But why I woke up thinking about Jeff Foxworthy related more to leadership and management.

n

u201cEveryone thinks theyu2019re a leader; nobody wants to manage or be managed. Everyone here has a u2018vision,u2019 but shit ainu2019t getting done!u201d

n

I remember my clientu2019s frustration. His post-merger integration wasnu2019t going according to plan. He wasnu2019t handling it well. He did put his finger on the difference between two distinct skillsets, leadership and management. Leaders clarify direction and attract followers; managers get shit done. In business, and especially in change you need both skillsets.

n

If you read articles in the business press, or the books of numerous business professors, or dilletante blogs (including this one), youu2019ll read plenty of words like:

n

u201cVision, mission, values, clarity, discipline, accountability, development,

n

recognition and reward, gratitude, empathy, loyalty, trust, caring, service,

n

inspiration, empowerment, commitment, personal responsibility, example,

n

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, and so on and so forth.u201d

n

And if you read social media about peopleu2019s experiences at work, sure, there are some laudatory posts about so-and-so u201cwho changed my lifeu201d that use words like those above, but all too frequently you read the misfortunes of the misled and mismanaged using words like:

n

u201cJerk, narcissist, egomaniac, asshole, psychopath, bastard, sociopath, bitch, autocrat, jackass or some variant from the following matrix:

n

Apparently too many leaders and managers just donu2019t know they are the BadBoss and canu2019t laugh at their own foibles to begin the process of change.

n

So I thought Iu2019d try a Foxworthy:

n

If . . . no one can do anything as well as you can, . . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . youu2019re ALWAYS in the office or plant after everyone else has gone home,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss

n

If . . . everyone . . . gives you compliments . . . and laughs at ALL your jokes, . . .

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . . you u201chave no problem with the tough jobsu201d like squeezing a supplier or letting people go,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . . people stop their conversations to greet you . . . EVERY time you walk into a room,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . people always have an answer for any negative variance from budget,

n

and you have very few conversations when things are going well,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . . youu2019re NEVER the last one to leave work, and your golf handicap is coming down,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . u201cMy door is always openu201d is a regular phrase in your work vocabulary,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If you NEVER hear bad news until itu2019s BAD and then they tell you as a team from across the room,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . you often hear yourself say u201cWhere did you get that idea?u201d or u201cThatu2019s not what I meant!u201d

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If. . . every time you say something nice, people stand around awkwardly. . . waiting for the u201cbutu201d

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If your team ALWAYS sets u201cstretch goalsu201d that they NEVER make,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . people always do what you want, sure maybe you have to scowl like youu2019re about to explode, but youu2019ve mastered that skill and, in the end, they always do what you want,

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . you hear yourself say. . . u201cYou know, itu2019s always the same people who do all the special projects,u201d . . . and then you realize. . . u201cthey didnu2019t volunteer, I picked them,u201d

n

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . your door is always closed. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

If . . . you say, u201cThis way gang, letu2019s gou201d. . . and you look over your shoulder and no oneu2019s there, u2026 you might be . . . a BadBoss.

n

n

If . . . youu2019re the boss, and there was any u201couchu201d in your laughter, as Jeff Foxworthy would say:

n

n

u201cCheck Your Neck.u201d

“}},”slug”:”et_pb_text”}” data-et-multi-view-load-tablet-hidden=”true”>

I awoke this morning with Jeff Foxworthy on my mind. Foxworthy is a stand-up comedian, a part of the Blue Collar Comedy tour, the author of four books, an actor in thirteen movies and thirty-six television shows and series, and counting. What I remember him for is the way he created humor from a slur that Northern city folk threw at rural Southerners.

“If. . . you have more cars in your driveway. . . and ‘specially more wrecked cars on your front lawn . . . than you have people in your house     . . . you might be . . . a redneck.”

Foxworthy took a derogatory term, owned it himself, got his audience to laugh, while admitting that they “might be a redneck”. . . and feel pride and maybe clean the front lawn. Quite a feat.

But why I woke up thinking about Jeff Foxworthy related more to leadership and management.

“Everyone thinks they’re a leader; nobody wants to manage or be managed. Everyone here has a ‘vision,’ but shit ain’t getting done!”

I remember my client’s frustration. His post-merger integration wasn’t going according to plan. He wasn’t handling it well. He did put his finger on the difference between two distinct skillsets, leadership and management. Leaders clarify direction and attract followers; managers get shit done. In business, and especially in change you need both skillsets.

If you read articles in the business press, or the books of numerous business professors, or dilletante blogs (including this one), you’ll read plenty of words like:

“Vision, mission, values,  clarity, discipline, accountability, development,

recognition and reward, gratitude, empathy, loyalty, trust, caring, service,

inspiration, empowerment, commitment, personal responsibility, example,

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, and so on and so forth.”

And if you read social media about people’s experiences at work, sure, there are some laudatory posts about so-and-so “who changed my life” that use words like those above, but all too frequently you read the misfortunes of the misled and mismanaged using words like:

“Jerk, narcissist, egomaniac, asshole, psychopath, bastard, sociopath, bitch, autocrat, jackass or some variant from the following matrix:

Apparently too many leaders and managers just don’t know they are the BadBoss and can’t laugh at their own foibles to begin the process of change.

So I thought I’d try a Foxworthy:

If . . . no one can do anything as well as you can, . . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . you’re ALWAYS in the office or plant after everyone else has gone home,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss

If . . . everyone . . . gives you compliments . . . and laughs at ALL your jokes, . . .

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If. . . you “have no problem with the tough jobs” like squeezing a supplier or letting people go,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If. . .  people stop their conversations to greet you . . . EVERY time you walk into a room,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . people always have an answer for any negative variance from budget,

and you have very few conversations when things are going well,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If. . . you’re NEVER the last one to leave work, and your golf handicap is coming down,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . “My door is always open”  is a regular phrase in your work vocabulary,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If you NEVER hear bad news until it’s BAD and then they tell you as a team from across the room,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . you often hear yourself say “Where did you get that idea?” or “That’s not what I meant!”

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If. . . every time you say something nice, people stand around awkwardly. . . waiting for the “but”

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If your team ALWAYS sets “stretch goals” that they NEVER make,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . people always do what you want, sure maybe you have to scowl like you’re about to explode, but you’ve mastered that skill and, in the end, they always do what you want,

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . you hear yourself say. . . “You know, it’s always the same people who do all the special projects,” . . . and then you realize. . . “they didn’t volunteer, I picked them,”

. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . .  your door is always closed. . . you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . you say, “This way gang, let’s go”. . . and you look over your shoulder and no one’s there, … you might be . . . a BadBoss.

If . . . you’re the boss, and there was any “ouch” in your laughter, as Jeff Foxworthy would say:

“Check Your Neck.”