WARNING: This post is blunt, short, and sweet. Shitty leaders and/or politically correct people may get offended by this post.

There’s a lot of nonsense out there about what makes a good leader. People love to throw around buzzwords—visionary, transformational, servant leader—but most of it is just fluff. In reality, leadership comes down to a few simple (but often ignored) principles:

1. Shit flows uphill.
2. Always look for your replacement.
3. Don’t be needed—only wanted.
4. Get the f*ck out of the way.

Most so-called leaders fail at one or all of these. Let’s break it down.

1. Shit Flows Uphill

Too many leaders expect their people to absorb all the pressure while they sit comfortably in meetings, detached from reality. That’s NOT leadership—that’s cowardice, laziness, and/or incompetence.

A real leader takes the hits so their team can focus on doing great work. When things go wrong, the leader absorbs the blame. When things go right, the leader gives away the credit.

If your team is stressed, buried in bureaucracy, or constantly firefighting while you enjoy a cushy existence, you’re doing it wrong. Fix the problems, remove the roadblocks, and take the heat so they don’t have to. At the end of the day, the leader is ultimately responsible for anything and everything that goes wrong. The stuff that goes right belongs to the team.

NOTE: I have a saying I use all the time for this, “the wind blows the strongest at the top of the mountain”.

2. Always Look for Your Replacement

Bad leaders hoard knowledge and power because they’re terrified of being replaced. Good leaders make themselves replaceable on purpose.

If you’re doing your job right, you should be mentoring, coaching, and building up the next generation of leaders who can step in when you’re gone.

Your legacy isn’t in how long you held the title—it’s in how well your team runs after you leave.

NOTE: It’s OK to find and empower someone better than you. Good leaders understand that this is the point!

3. Don’t Be Needed—Only Wanted

A lot of leaders fall into the trap of making themselves indispensable. They create bottlenecks, keep knowledge to themselves, and make sure nothing moves without their approval. That’s NOT leadership—that’s insecurity.

A great leader doesn’t need to be there for things to function. Instead, they build systems, teach their people to think independently, and create an environment where the team thrives with or without them.

If your company or team falls apart the moment you step away, you didn’t build a strong team—you built a personal fiefdom. And that’s a failure on your part.

NOTE: Speaking of failure, leaders create a culture where people aren’t afraid to fail. Failures create problem solvers and growth opportunities. Another saying, “failure isn’t an option, it’s a requirement”. Failure must be managed correctly to reap the benefits.

4. Get the F*ck Out of the Way

This is the hardest part for a lot of so-called leaders.

Your job isn’t to micromanage, control, or insert yourself into every little decision. Your job is to enable—to set the vision, clear obstacles, and let your people do what they do best.

Hire smart people. Trust them. Give them room to operate. Then get the hell out of their way.

NOTE: This one might require the greatest amount of honest self reflection. Pride is a bitch!

Final Thought

Leadership isn’t about you—it’s about what you build, who you empower, and how well things run after you’re gone. If you’re clinging to power, micromanaging your team, or making yourself indispensable, you’re not leading—you’re just in the way.

Fix that.

Join us—me, Matt Goodacre, and Oscar Minks (FRSecure’s president) this Thursday night for the LIVE recording of the InfoSec to Insanity podcast, where we’ll discuss this (and probably more).

-Evan