John Maeda posted a short article about the good boss. Well worth the read. John points out that a good boss is one that credits the team for the successes and takes the blame for failure. A strong leader can balance accountability with intelligent risk taking. So where does the leader get recognized? Good leaders will have good teams and good teams will constantly produce.

It would be safe to say that poor leaders will leave a wake of failed programs, careers and relationships. Not that everything they touch will be a failure, even bad leaders inherit good teams or get lucky once and a while.

But this is not about the bad ones, it's about you. What kind of leader are you? Even if you are not a boss or a manager, you can still be a leader. Strive each and every day to answer yes to the following question: "Are people better as a result of our interactions?" Treat people well, help them, leave them better than you found them. That is the mark of a good leader.