How can a smart person act so badly and do things so stupidly? I have 5 leadership lessons from the Ellen scandal that should matter to CEOs and wannabe leaders everywhere.
Ellen DeGeneres has been a top talk-show host for years. She’s fun to watch. Has been very popular. And has been seen at the top of her game in the entertainment industry.
And with all of that, she may disappear from the airwaves soon because of a combination, depending on who’s being quoted, of her own bad behavior and the actions of those she placed in her Show’s leadership and willfully ignored. She’s in the middle of a scandal.
Claims that her ‘be kind’ motto is a sham, her employees were told not to make eye contact with her, and that some of her executive producers sexually harassed employees are being leaked daily.
It’s problematic and, despite a recently announced renewal of her show for another year by Telepictures and Warner Bros. Television, it’s difficult to imagine that the show will continue.
This sounds familiar, as we’ve seen it happen not only in entertainment but also in business.
Ellen’s veneer has been scratched first and foremost because the image of kindness that people see from their couches every afternoon has been shattered. And once that image is gone, it’s nearly impossible to repair.
Every leader should learn 5 things from this incident:
- Be the values leader and mean it–Ellen’s reputation has been tarnished, possibly permanently, by urging the public to ‘be kind’, while reportedly exhibiting monstrous behavior behind the scenes. Hypocrisy kills careers.
- You’re responsible for the actions of those under you. The good news is you have people who can execute your plans. The bad news is that, if left unchecked and unmanaged, leaders can be held accountable for what happened under their watch or for their ignorance.
- You’re under more scrutiny than ever before–understand what that means and respond accordingly. Even the best of leaders can be displaced from their roles by adverse headlines and employee insurrections. Proactively protect your image, avoid actions that contradict your organization’s stated values, and ‘be kind’ to others.
- Document the good and the bad — Ellen’s operations are facing allegations from a long time ago that were never addressed. If you encounter problems, address them. If your Glassdoor reviews are dangerous shards of broken glass, clean up the problems that are causing them. Starting today.
And finally, under the right (but ethically wrong) circumstances, you could face a completely false attack from your employees. An insurrection based on pay, power, prestige, jealousy, or vengeance for a review gone bad or a misplaced sense of justice.
This is not a backdoor defense of Ellen, but it’s my firm belief and experience that rogue leaders or employees can take a structurally sound process and use it for unethical and destructive purposes; e.g. the actions of ‘Hazel’, who I discuss in my book, The Arsonist in the Office: Fireproofing Your Life Against Toxic Coworkers, Bosses, Employees and Cultures
Hazel understood the weaknesses in the culture well and understood that the complaint process could be used to address grievances–or as a club to attack those whom she viewed as adversaries. She chose the latter–frequently, randomly, and brutally. And the culture refused to stop her.
In a recent case I heard of, a rogue member of an organization’s board of directors contacted lower-level employees, offering promotions and raises if they would speak out against the CEO and halt all work. Even the executive’s performance review was doctored–all in an effort to paint an ugly picture.
The CEO was then faced with both an external challenge and the perception — and, suddenly, the reality— of unrest on the inside, and a compromised culture. Their organization had been seized in a silent coup. Eventually, a successful coup occurred, as the CEO was asked to leave weeks later. It didn’t take much
Not that it would have saved the CEO in this particular instance, but it’s vital for executives to protect their image and tell their stories as well as those of their organizations. It’s just one more reason to show your value, demonstrate your values, and show you care.
What other leadership lessons from the Ellen scandal do you see?
If I can help you either improve your culture or protect your career, reach out.
Pete Havel is a speaker, trainer, and consultant on workplace culture and leadership. He speaks and consults for organizations ranging from law enforcement agencies to Fortune 500 companies. He’s also the author of “The Arsonist in the Office: Fireproofing Your Life Against Toxic Coworkers, Bosses, Employees, and Cultures,” named as a #1 Hot New Release by Amazon. It’s available at www.arsonistintheoffice.com. Pete can be reached at pete@petehavel.com. You’ll also find more information on him at www.petehavel.com.
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