Leonard is basically a good guy. He's worked hard to get where he is. He sort of runs an efficienct ship and he's highly respected by his clients for the work he does and what he delivers. He's the manager of a seasonal project. However, he's a lousy manager.
Leonard, from listening to his speech, does not have a Harvard advanced degree. In previous work situations, he was in management. As he discussed the draft of a manual that set forth the procedure to be used for one of the functions that falls under his purview, and the position descriptions for the two positions, he provided very insightful critiques that show he is sensitive to keeping the description open enough so that it does not become exclusionary.
The trouble is, Leonard is a jerk once the actual project starts. The other problem is, he is only a jerk at fluctuating times and with certain people. And he's generally not a jerk before a large audience that can witness the "hoof in mouth" (and other parts of the anatomy) sickness from which he suffers.
Someone should pull him aside and give him a good sounding out about his behavior. Someone should let him know that he still walks on land -- with limited success -- that he affects people is a particular way, and that there is a definite reason why people respond to him in the manner they do, and there is most definitely a reason why others are leaving with departing words such as, "I won't be coming back." Those are the ones who are polite and up front. There are others who just won't respond or who will, in the alternative, say they're busy this time around.
Leonard has several problems but no one seems willing to tell him what they are. The managers at his client's site seem oblivious to what may be the issue(s). All they know is that they're offering this really great situation and people are walking away. So it appears it's not just Leonard who has the problem; the client also has some issues. But back to the Leonard problems:
- Control freak
- Secretive
- Verbally abusive
- Emotionally immature
- Self-centered
- Creates combative situations
- Does not give credit to others
- Is slow on compliments
- Does not offer feedback or input when something goes wrong
- Holds workers accountable for things of which they are not aware have gone wrong
Should someone tell Leonard what a jerk he is? If it's one of those with whom he's so brutish, try to get him to not interrupt, much less listen. If it's one who's observed him in full glory, try to convince him that this was not a mere aberrant incident that is not the regular routine.
The problem with Leonard is that he is oblivious to the problem. The problem with Leonard is that the client accepts his behavior. The problem with Leonard is that he's good at making excuses for not being a professional. The problem with Leonard is that he's losing a lot of good people while simultaneously feeling as though he's not lost a lot because they can easily be replaced.
Most certainly, a cure is in the near future. It's just a question of who delivers it and how.
