The fastest way CEOs can spot good (or bad) managers

If you’re familiar with Gallup data about employee engagement, they have been playing one of their Top 40 hits for decades now. It’s a classic we’ve all heard. The tune? “People don’t quit companies; they quit managers.”

We’ve known this for years, but here we are, still stuck in the same leadership crisis. Too many managers don’t understand the difference between managing work and leading people. Here’s the plain truth: You manage the work; you lead humans. And when leaders miss that, the culture and performance pay the price.

The brutal truths

So, if you’re willing to take a hard look in the mirror, here are seven brutal truths about leadership every leader needs to face.

1. Good leaders remove the fear from the atmosphere

Traditional command-and-control bosses still use fear and pressure to push people forward. It may work in the short term, but it kills creativity, collaboration, and psychological safety. Modern leaders—servant leaders—flip the script. They create safety first, freeing their people to share ideas, take risks, and innovate without fear of punishment. When fear leaves the room, growth walks in.

2. Trust is non-negotiable for high performance

Here’s the leadership gut check: “Does my behavior increase trust?” Trust isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation of high-performing teams. Leaders who build trust practice transparency, keep commitments, talk straight, and hold themselves accountable. If your people don’t trust you, nothing else will stick.

3. Accepting feedback fuels good leadership

Too many leaders avoid hearing feedback because it threatens their ego. That’s a surefire way to lead in an echo chamber. The best leaders invite feedback, listen with curiosity, and ask questions until they truly understand. They don’t dwell on past mistakes—they use feedback as fuel to grow and to better serve their teams.

4. Good leaders stay positive under pressure

Challenges, setbacks, and even failures are inevitable in this day and age. The difference is how leaders show up in the storm. Emotionally intelligent leaders don’t sugarcoat reality, but they keep their perspective grounded in growth. They frame problems as opportunities to regroup and reset. That positivity doesn’t just reduce their own stress—it keeps the whole team grounded.

5. Procrastination kills leadership

Effective leaders are action-takers. They don’t put off tough conversations or delay decisions until a crisis forces their hand. They anticipate issues and address them head-on before they spiral. Procrastination breeds chaos. Proactive action builds stability.

6. Boundaries are a leader’s best friend

Warren Buffett said it best: “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” I regularly coach executive teams to protect their time, energy, and focus—to say no to distractions, negativity, and overcommitment. The flip side? Saying yes to what aligns with their values and fuels their mission.

7. In the end, leadership is really about love

Yes, love. And not the soft, sentimental, squishy kind. I’m talking about love as practical, results-driven action, day in and day out. The rugged Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi nailed it when he said, “I don’t necessarily have to like my players and associates, but as their leader, I must love them. Love is loyalty, love is teamwork, love respects the dignity of the individual. This is the strength of any organization.” In practice, leadership love looks like clearing roadblocks for your team, investing in their growth, advocating for their success, and treating them with dignity. Love is leadership’s ultimate competitive advantage.

The bottom line: The old Gallup song may be around for another decade, but leaders willing to face these truths—and live them out—will finally help their teams and organizations play a new song.

—Marcel Schwantes

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