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- Why Bad Leaders Lean on Authority
Authority comes with leadership. It gives you the power to make decisions, enforce standards, and move things forward. Used well, authority provides stability and clarity.
The danger arises when leaders rely on it too heavily. Instead of earning influence and inspiring action, bad leaders make their authority felt by making sure team members know who ultimately makes the decisions.
If you want to lead at a higher level, this week is for you.
I. Authority can command obedience, but it cannot inspire trust.
What it means:
Authority gets compliance. People might do what you say because they have to. But compliance isn’t commitment. Trust is the difference-maker.
When you inspire trust and focus on influencing them, people give their best effort because they want to, not because they are forced to.
II. Perfection turns leaders into controllers instead of coaches.
What it means:
When leaders obsess over flawless execution, they smother creativity and micromanage details. This turns them into controllers, not coaches.
Great leaders focus on progress over perfection. It’s your job to coach team members to higher levels of performance. To help them get from where they are to where they want or need to be.
III. When pride drives authority, leadership becomes about the leader, not the team.
What it means:
You have experienced it. When the leader believes they are more important than the team, it’s driven by ego and pride. Ego is one of the most dangerous forces in leadership. When decisions are made to protect pride, leadership shifts from serving others to serving self. This erodes culture and kills performance.
True leaders put the team first. Leadership isn’t about having team members believe in you; it’s about having them believe in themselves.
Use your gifts,
John Eades
CEO | LearnLoft | The Sales Infrastructure
P.S. I’m excited to share something new. I’m opening up a free coaching spot each week called Breakthrough Corner. Real coaching. Real breakthroughs. If you’d like to be coached by me (and help others learn from it too), you can apply here.
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The Breakthrough Corner
The Breakthrough Corner - Real Coaching. Real Breakthroughs.
Each week, I’ll feature one reader for a free 15 to 30-minute coaching session. These coaching sessions are designed to create clarity, unlock growth, and help you break through the challenges holding you back in your leadership or career.
How it works:
Apply with a short form (link below).
If selected, we’ll schedule a Zoom session.
With your permission, I’ll record the conversation so others can learn from it too.
These aren’t hypothetical discussions. They’re real free coaching sessions that lead to real breakthroughs.
Here Are Some Ways We Could Partner:
Customized Leadership Development Programs: Bring the Accelerate Leadership Program or Catalyst for Growth Program in-house for a customized experience for your team members. Programs include virtual or in-person instructor-led training, a Leadership Growth Plan, and group coaching to ensure real-world mastery.
1:1 Coaching: Work 1-on-1 with me or one of our certified coaches to achieve your goals, strengthen critical skills, and address your most pressing challenges. This 6-month program focuses on mindset and execution for tangible, lasting outcomes. Show me more
Speaking: We are now booking keynotes for the fall of 2025. Hit reply on this note, or check out some of our recent talks here.
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