Tag Archive | George W Bush

How To Recognize Bad Leaders That Isolate Themselves

…Como se pueden reconocer los lideres malos que aislarse?

(para la versión en español, hacer clic aquí)

Isolation Can be BadThis is part of the 7 habits of bad business leaders series.  Check out the other parts here. The purpose of the series is to break down the English language in Eric Jackson’s Forbes article for non-native speakers.

Habits 3 and 4 really are about leaders who isolate themselves…

Bad habit #3:  Leaders think they have all the answers

Warning Sign:  A leader without followers

Bad habit #4:  Leaders ruthlessly eliminate anyone who isn’t completely behind them

Warning Sign:  Executive departures

Vocabulary:  To isolate is to reduce or elimate the connections to something. The idea of isolating or isolation is not always bad.  Isolation is good when you need to think without distraction tempoarily. But permanent isolation is bad. Would you want to be isolated from your friends and family forever?

Walter White was cutthroat, he was the danger

The face of a ruthless man from TV Series Breaking Bad

Acting ruthlessly is acting coldly or without caring about others.  Sometimes we say someone ruthless is ‘cutthroat.’  The TV series Breaking Bad, a great series to practice your listening, featured several  characters acting coldly or ruthlessly.

If you are not behind someone or something, you do not support or agree with them.  For example, President Santos is not behind Hugo Chavez but he is behind the legalization of marijuana. (Seriously, read about it here.)

An Isolated King is in Trouble

When you don't listen, you are on your own

Habit 3, the idea: If leaders think they have all the answers they do not listen to others.  Maybe they hear what others say but stubbornly disagree because they believe they are right. We call this a ‘know it all‘.  Who wants to be around that type of person? They isolate themselves unintentionally or without wanting or intending to.

Habit 4, the idea: Leaders that eliminate anyone that disagrees with them do not want internal opposition. They want people that agree with them.  So they make people leave by firing them or forcing them to quit. Clearly habit 4 is an intentional habit of someone that wants to isolate themselves.

Bush had Yes Men behind him

Bush Was Slow... to Recognize Mistakes

These type of leaders show up in politics.  Often political leaders remove dissenting or disagreeing opinions from their ‘inner circle‘ or small group of trusted advisors and supporters. The problem with removing dissenting opinions is that one only surrounds themself with ‘yes men‘ or people that never disagree.  You don’t get good feedback and you become slow to recognize mistakes.

Learning English in isolation or without good feedback is a slow way to learn a language.  Find yourself a good institute with great teachers like Bogota Business English.

¿Como se pueden reconocer los lideres malos que aislarse?

…How to Recognize Bad Leaders that Isolate Themselves

(para la versión en inglés – english version click here)

Isolation Can be BadEsta entrada es la primera parte del serie sobre los 7 habitos de malos lideres de negocio y se pueden mirar las otras partes acá. El proposito del serie es discutir el inglés usado en el articulo de Eric Jackson para hablantes no nativos.

Los habitos 3 y 4 tratan los lideres que aislanse…

Bad habit #3:  Leaders think they have all the answers

Warning Sign:  A leader without followers

Bad habit #4:  Leaders ruthlessly eliminate anyone who isn’t completely behind them

Warning Sign:  Executive departures

Vocabulario:  To isolate es reducir o eliminar las connexiones de algo a otros elementos. La idea de aislarse o en inglés isolation está bien a veces. El aislamiento o isolation en inglés es bueno cuando necesites pensar sin distraecion. Aunque el aislamiento permanente es malo. Quires estar aislado de los amigos  la famila para siempre?

Walter White was cutthroat, he was the danger

La mirada de un man ruthless de serie Breaking Bad

Acting ruthlessly significa comportarse frio o sin cuidar otros.  A veces se dice alguien ruthless es ‘cutthroat.’  La serie Breaking Bad cual un buen recurso para practicar escuchando a inglés (mira otros recursos para practicar  inglés acá) destacó varios personajes comportandose frio o acting ruthlessly.

To be behind alguien o to be behind algo, significa que respaldas a la persona o estás de acuerdo con algo.  Por ejemplo, President Santos is not behind Hugo Chavez but he is behind the legalization of marijuana. Santos no respalda a Hugo Chavez pero está de acuerdo con la legalización de marijuna. (En serio, leer más.)

An Isolated King is in Trouble

Cuando no escuchas a otros, estás solo

Habito 3, la idea: Si los lideres creen que tienen todas las respuestas, es decir saben todo, no van a escuchar a otros.  Tal vez escuchan a otros pero sotenen de manera terca sus ideas por la creencia que tienen la razon. Se llama en inglés un ‘know it all‘.  Quien quiere trabajar con ese tipo? Los lideres de habito 3 se aislan sin querer o se aislan  unintentionally.

Habito 4, la idea: Los lideres que eliminan la presencia de la gente que no se acuerda son los lideres que no queren oposicion interna.  Quiren la gente que están de acuerdo con el lider.  Ellos hacen que la gente salga por la despedida o la renuncia forzada. Habito 4 es claramente un habito intentional o intencional para aislarse.

Bush had Yes Men behind him

Bush was slow... to recognize mistakes

Notamos este lider en la politica. Los lideres politicos sacan usualmente la gente de opiniones en contra o descrepantes, dejando un ‘inner circle‘ o un consejo pequeño de personas de confianza y partidarios.  El problema con eliminar las opiniones en contra es que se rodea con  ‘yes men‘ o los hombres que dicen que ‘si’ a todo.  En tal caso no recibas buena retroalimentacion y seas lento para reconocer los errores.

Aprender inglés en aislamiento o sin buena retroalimentación es una manera lenta para aprender un idioma.  Busca un buen instituto con muy buenos profesores tal como Bogota Business English.