Every once in a while, someone comes out of nowhere and captures our imagination – maybe even inspires us. Last week, it was 62 year old General Larry Platt, appearing on American Idol with his viral hit “Pants on the ground”. Thanks to Sarah for bringing it to my attention.
If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look. Warning: once you hear this song, you’ll be hooked!
As leaders, what does it mean to have your “pants on the ground”? What are those punk-like behaviors that could cause a leader to look like a fool, and eventually fail?
1. Arrogance and insensitivity to others
Whether it’s yelling, screaming, and berating, or a more subtle approach to letting everyone else don’t they don’t matter, everybody can’t stand an arrogant jerk.
2. Not listening
Not listening is another way of displaying arrogance and insensitivity, even if you don’t mean to be.
3. Manipulative
Getting things done by manipulating people shows a lack of authenticity and keeps people guessing what your true intentions are. It fosters a lack of trust.
4. Lack of integrity
Lying, cheating, fibbing, blaming others for your mistakes – it only takes one mistake to ruin a reputation for life.
5. Selfishness
A “me first” approach, inability to collaborate or build a team, and unwillingness to collaborate.
If you’ve ever been told you display any of these traits, then do yourself and everyone around you a big favor – get some help!
Unfortunately, a lot very “successful” managers shrewdly use these very same characteristics to their advantage. You can achieve short-tem success by lying, cheating, and abusing your power. However, at some point, it’s going to catch up to you. In the meantime, you’ll end up “lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground”.
Great Leadership Pants on the Ground Remix:
Pants on the ground
Pants on the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground
With your air-o-gance,
wax in yo ears,
pullin those strings,
cheatin, lying, and lookin out for you
Pants hit the ground
Call yourself a cool cat
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ downtown with your pants on the ground
Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ talkin’ with your pants on the ground.
Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground
You should be glad I don’t do videos, or you’d have to see me singing and break-dancing. Not a pretty sight.
BTW, Larry Platt is no fool. He marched with Martin Luther King when he was a teenager. The Georgia General Assembly proclaimed Sept. 4, 2001, Larry Platt Day in Atlanta, because of "his great energy and commitment to equality and the protection of the innocent and for his outstanding service to the Atlanta community and the citizens of Georgia."
