Avoiding Grinch-Like Leadership

At this time of year, it is only a matter of time until you hear the following lyrics played…

You're a mean one Mr Grinch

You really are a heel

You’re as cuddly as a cactus

You're as charming as an eel

Mr. Grinch

You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel

You're a monster Mr. Grinch

Your Hearts an empty hole

Your brain is full of spiders

You’ve got garlic in your soul Mr. Grinch

I wouldn’t touch you with a

39 and a half Foot pole

You’re a vile one Mr. Grinch

You have termites in your smile

You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile

Mr. Grinch

Given the choice between the two of you

I’d take the a seasick crocodile

You’re a foul one Mr. Grinch

You’re a nasty wasty skunk

Your heart is full of unwashed socks,

Your soul is full of gunk

Mr. Grinch

The 3 words that best describe you, are as follows, and I quote

Stink, Stank, Stonk

You’re a rotter Mr. Grinch

You’re the king of sinful sots

Your hearts a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots

Mr. Grinch

Your sole is an appalling dump heap

Overflowing with the most disgraceful

Assortment of deplorable rubbish

Imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch

With a nauseous super naus

You’re a crooked jerky jockey and,

you drive a crooked horse

Mr. Grinch

You’re a 3 Decker sour kraut and toad stool sandwich

With arsenic sauce!

Of all the Christmas tunes out there, this one is the least likely to give you the warm fuzzies.  Still, the funny little tune is adored as listeners recall the classic book and cartoon from the mind on Dr. Seuss. 

The Grinch would have made a terrible leader as you can imagine.  Here are a few reasons why.

He was isolated.  The Grinch lived atop a mountain outside of town with little interaction with anyone accept for his dog (and even that wasn’t pleasant).  When leaders become isolated from those they lead, the result is a perception that the leader doesn’t care for his or her followers.  Interaction with those you lead is vitally important in order to be effective.

He was bitter.  For some reason, the Grinch was bitter and it defined him.  Bitterness comes across loud and clear to those you lead.  It wears on your team to the point that they will eventually abandon you.  Deal with your bitterness and get rid of it.  When you do, your team will be much more inclined to follow you whole-heartedly.

He was self-focused.  The Grinch did not take into account the thoughts, feelings, and dreams of those around him.  If he did, he would have never attempted to steal Christmas in the first place.  When leaders become self-focused it can become easy for them to use and abuse others.  As leaders, we have to get beyond ourselves.

One positive about the Grinch, he was willing to change.  It took a lot, but somehow his shriveled little heart began to expand.  This can be true of any leader as well.  When we find ourselves displaying Grinch-like characteristics in leadership, it is time for a change. 

If those you lead wrote a song about you, would it resemble the popular Grinch theme song or would it be a different kind of tune?  As a leader, you are responsible for the song your followers sing about you.