Buddy or Bossy? Don't Oversimplify the Dynamics of Leadership

Some managers lead by dominating employees; others try to win them over. But the most effective leaders deploy the style best suited to the situation. This piece oversimplifies the dynamics of leadership, and as the title suggests a choice between being bossy vs buddy. What I advocate for all leading through respect. With respect a manager and leader can be very demanding and tough and people will positively respond. By being "bossy" people usually respond out of fear and by being "buddy" people respond only when the leader or manager is consistent with this style through good times and bad. I have witnessed a number of buddy leaders turn into barbaric monsters when times get tough. From the New York Times: Bossy vs. Buddy: Two Leadership Styles, Each with Its Place.

Credit: BIGSTOCK

The Dangers of Start-Up Culture

The idea of taking a new job at a fresh Silicon Valley start-up can be appealing for many people, especially to the generation that’s just now entering the work force. However, horror stories, like the one provided by WrkRiot, urge me to encourage everyone looking to make it big with a start-up to do their due diligence before signing up. WrkRiot, as The New York Times reports, is a drastic example of a start-up gone wrong. The company aimed to be the new Indeed.com, but ended up losing enough money that the business had to borrow money from employees to provide paychecks. While WrkRiot provides a pretty severe example of Silicon Valley failure, it’s my understanding that this kind of failure is not entirely uncommon in start-up culture. Just like with any organization, it’s important to make sure you do your homework before joining a company, even one that’s quite new, to make sure you’re not stepping into a rat’s nest. 

Image: Penny Kim, a former WrkRiot employee who helped to bring many of the company's issues to light. Credit: Anthony Chiang via NYT