Some people want to be in leadership because they desire to impact change, to help people, or to make a difference in some way. Others desire leadership because it is a way to have power, control, and notoriety. While these latter three things aren’t innately bad, when in the hands of the wrong leader they can be destructive.

Sometimes people who start off in leadership roles with good intentions fall into the leadership trap. They become influenced by the influence they wield; they get power hungry or drunk off the control that they have over other people. Other leaders come to find it easier to make decisions based on how the outcome impacts them personally rather than on the impact it has on the organization. Still, others find it difficult to choose the ethical route when easier and more profitable options are in front of them. Falling into the leadership trap can happen to anyone, even to you, especially when you don’t realize you’re falling.

There is a lot to learn from bad leaders, perhaps even more than what you may learn from great leaders. It’s easy to look at some of our greatest leaders and learn lessons on inspiring and motivating others. We can identify traits and habits that can help us be more effective in our leadership, like boldness and surrounding ourselves with people who have skill sets that complement our skills. The thing to keep in mind, however, is that a bad leader is bad behind closed doors long before they are bad in public view and what you see in the public view isn’t always representative of the real person.

In fact, the most valuable lessons in leadership may not come from leaders themselves but from those that they lead - the people who sit face to face and eye to eye with them; who see them when goals are being achieved and when failure comes unexpectedly; who are