When Even a Bad Leader is Dependable

The Value of Reliability

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

from New York City Post Office in James A. Farley Building

“You are my rock.”

People think of rocks as stable, solid, and unchanging. So to call a person a rock means the same thing. That person is someone you can always rely on. And hence, reliability is one of those positive traits that is often associated with a leader.

We also want many things in our lives to be reliable: the train that arrives on time, the mail that gets delivered every day, the investments that provide an expected return, the drug that heals, and the Big Mac that tastes the same no matter where in the world you are.

The reliability of our postal service, as well as many of those other things, can be measured by statistics: A measure is said to have high reliability if it produces similar results under consistent conditions.

Things aside, though, how about us humans?

Robert Ferguson writes about how reliability is a differentiating value for us. To him, reliability has four components: (1) worthy of trust; (2) dependable; (3) faithful; (4) authentic. I agree with his assessment that all four need to be in place, albeit to a varying degree based on the individual.

Lee Colan writes about how to become more reliable. His most practical advice is to respect time, yours, and others. If you tell someone you can meet at a certain time, you have made a promise. Being on time shows others that you are a person of your word, that you are dependable, and your word can be trusted.

When late, you are saying, "My time is more valuable than your time."

Margot Andersen (like many other authors) wrote an article on why good leaders need to be reliable. I agree and would argue in a slightly cynical manner that the same holds true for bad leaders.

Displaying reliable and predictable behavior is critical. If you are dealing with a micromanager, a shouter, a bossy boss, a tyrant, a helicopter, … it is great if this behavior is predictable. Those working with this leader can now cope and find their personal workarounds.

As such, even a bad leader is equally dependable, authentic, and worthy of your trust.

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Robert Ferguson – Reliability: What’s Required To Build It

Margot Andersen – Why Good Leaders Need To Be Reliable

Lee Colan – 8 Ways to Become the Most Reliable Person in the Room

Photo by Anne Gosewehr