Alan’s12 traits for people to write about leadership on Linkedin:

1. There is a numbered list of traits and behaviors with no justification or credibility.

2. Many are simplistic: Treat people kindly. Do not drop hot coffee on their laps.

3. Some are wrong: Practice “servant leadership”; make sure you have gender-neutral restrooms.

4. Cutesy illustrations and cartoon figures are required for slow readers.

5. There should be arrows and indicators on how to proceed (in case you can’t read).

6. Charts and graphs create gravitas and must be in color. They needn’t be correct.

7. Use opinion as statistics: “Ninety percent of CEOs are clinically depressed.”

8. Find bad guys to blame: the top team, the environment, other workers, the customers.

9. Never imply that workers have accountabilities or obligations. They are victims.

10. Make a snide, subtle (not really) reference to the horrors of the current administration (wink, wink).

11. Suggest other countries that have better working conditions (always include Denmark and Iceland).

12. Never, ever having led anyone, anywhere, to accomplish anything yourself.

​