The Importance of Choosing the Right Leaders – And Why It Feels Like So Many Are Failing

Leadership can make or break a company. A strong leader inspires, guides, and elevates a business. A bad one? They create chaos, kill motivation, and drive talented people away.

But let’s be real—doesn’t it feel like more and more leaders today are… well, terrible at their jobs?

Why do so many executives, managers, and decision-makers seem out of touch, ineffective, or just plain arrogant? And more importantly, how can businesses avoid this leadership crisis by choosing the right people?

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Why Are There So Many Bad Leaders?

It’s easy to blame bad leadership on individual incompetence, but the problem runs deeper. Here are some reasons why we’re seeing a rise in ineffective leaders:

Too many organizations promote or hire leaders based on politics, loyalty, or image rather than actual leadership ability. Instead of looking for vision, emotional intelligence, and competence, companies often choose people who:

Talk big but deliver little

Are experts in self-promotion rather than team success

Fit in with the existing power structure instead of challenging outdated thinking

Many companies still operate under the outdated idea that years of experience = leadership ability. While experience matters, it doesn’t automatically make someone a great leader.

A brilliant technician may not be a great manager.

A long-term employee may not be ready to lead just because they’ve “put in the time.”

A charismatic speaker may still be incapable of making tough, ethical decisions.

When bad leaders aren’t held responsible for their failures, they continue making the same mistakes. Some companies protect toxic managers simply because they bring in short-term results, even if they ruin company culture in the process.

To be fair, not all bad leaders started that way. Many enter their roles with good intentions but get overwhelmed by the unrealistic expectations placed on them. Under constant pressure, they stop listening, become defensive, and make poor decisions.

Why Choosing the Right Leaders Matters More Than Ever

In today’s business world, bad leadership is more visible and damaging than ever before. Employees no longer tolerate toxic workplaces, customers expect companies to be ethical, and poor decision-making can destroy a company overnight.

Here’s why businesses must choose leaders carefully:

A strong leader creates a motivated team, a clear vision, and a productive work environment. A weak leader creates confusion, high turnover, and lost opportunities.

With remote work, job mobility, and company reviews on platforms like Glassdoor, employees have more options and insights than ever. If leadership is bad, they will leave—or worse, they’ll stay but stop caring.

A company’s leadership defines its brand. If executives are seen as arrogant, out of touch, or unethical, customers, investors, and employees will take their business elsewhere.

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How to Fix the Leadership Crisis

If businesses want to avoid putting the wrong people in power, they need to rethink their hiring and promotion strategies.

1. Focus on Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Great leaders aren’t just smart; they’re self-aware, empathetic, and great communicators. Stop promoting people who only excel at technical skills but lack people skills.

 2. Look for Leaders Who Empower, Not Control

A strong leader builds up their team instead of micromanaging and taking all the credit. The best leaders are those who make everyone around them better.

 3. Encourage Honest Feedback

If employees fear their leaders, something is wrong. Companies must create a culture where people can speak up about leadership failures without fear of retaliation.

 4. Stop Rewarding Toxic Behavior

Companies need to stop protecting bad leaders just because they bring in revenue or maintain the status quo. Toxic leadership will cost far more in the long run through high turnover, low morale, and reputational damage.

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Final Thoughts: Leadership is a Responsibility, Not a Reward

The idea that all executives and managers today are “becoming idiots” isn’t entirely wrong— but it’s not because people are getting dumber. It’s because businesses keep choosing the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

We need to stop treating leadership as a reward for tenure, networking, or politics and start treating it as what it truly is: a responsibility to lead, inspire, and create positive change.

The solution? Choose leaders who care more about their team’s success than their own ego.