Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has a hilarious routine about being given a Superman costume for a Halloween present.
Reading the box, he was surprised to read the disclaimer, “Do not attempt to fly!”
“I love the idea of the kid who’s stupid enough to think he really is Superman,” Seinfeld muses, “but smart enough to check that box before he goes off the roof.”
Imagine.
Thinking that by merely putting on the right costume it could somehow magically transform you.
And yet some people think that’s how leadership works.
They’ve seen the costume and believe that if they simply put it on then they too will be magically transformed into a leader.
These fake leadership costumes come in a variety of forms. Here are five of the most common:
1. Bossy-ness.
Simply barking out orders doesn’t make you a leader.
Usually it just makes a person a bit obnoxious.
2. Busy-ness.
This is a common one. Some people actually believe that by darting frantically from one disjointed activity to another, it must mean he or she is a great leader.
Often, it means only that the person is either unfocused or a poor time manager.
3. Distracted-ness.
This costume is easy to spot.
It’s worn by the person who keeps his or her smart phone on ready alert, even when they’re in a conversation with you. At the slightest vibration, their attention is immediately diverted away from you and onto their device.
That’s no indication of leadership. Really, it’s just poor manners.
