Newly promoted leaders often adopt overly aggressive, controlling behavior to prove their worth—a tendency captured by the Malay proverb “Ular baru tumbuh taring, memang suka patuk sana sini.” Driven by high power distance cultures and personal insecurity, these leaders mistake micromanagement and fear-based dominance for strength. However, research proves abusive supervision destroys trust, stifl
When the food is finished, only a dirty plate remains. Life often works the same way. People celebrate you when you are useful, but forget what you have given once they no longer need you. That is why you should never measure your worth by how others treat you; their appreciation often shifts based on what they can extract from you. Instead, ask yourself a deeper question: Do people value you, or do they only value what you provide? The people who truly care about you will still recognize your worth long after you stop serving their needs.
In management, adherence to rules and procedures is essential for maintaining order, fairness, and operational efficiency. Established guidelines create a clear framework, ensuring decisions are made consistently and without bias or personal favor. However, enforcing rules blindly without considering context or human factors can lead to a rigid and overly bureaucratic work culture. Capable managers recognize that rules exist to guide and protect the organization, not to stifle talent or punish employees. In certain situations, discretion and flexibility are necessary to adapt policies to unique circumstances.
Striking a balance between firm compliance and empathetic leadership is key. Exceptional management relies not just on strict enforcement, but on open communication, trust-building, and supporting employee growth. Ultimately, leadership character and adaptability are what turn basic rules into a thriving organizational environment.
Servant leadership, introduced by Robert K. Greenleaf, inverts traditional management by prioritizing the growth and well-being of team members over personal authority. Key elements of this model include:
Ultimately, servant leaders gain influence not through dominance, but by uplifting others and demonstrating genuine humility.
Abusing power and mistreating subordinates represent the ultimate failure of leadership. When an entrusted position is used to pursue personal gain, settle grudges, or intimidate others, it does not just damage employee well-being—it destroys the organization’s integrity and core trust. Authority is never a license to act arbitrarily; it is a solemn obligation that demands fairness, honesty, and basic human dignity. Capable leaders do not exploit their team's vulnerabilities or rely on fear to force compliance. Instead, they leverage their platform to protect, empower, and guide their people toward growth and collective success.
Titles and positions are temporary. True respect is never demanded through the misuse of power; it is earned by treating others with empathy, fairness, and unwavering integrity while holding that trust.
In the Islamic perspective, authority and leadership are not privileges to be exploited, but a sacred trust (Amanah) that demands absolute justice and accountability. Every leader will be held strictly answerable for how they treat those under their care.
Allah SWT emphasizes this imperative in the Qur'an:
"Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice." (Surah an-Nisa', 4:58)
Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad ( ﷺ ) warned against the misuse of power and leadership:
"Indeed, leadership is a trust, and on the Day of Resurrection, it will be a cause of disgrace and regret, except for one who claims it by right and fulfils its duties properly." (HR Muslim)
A leader grounded in faith understands that abusing authority, oppressing subordinates, or prioritizing self-interest brings ruin in this life and severe accountability in the Hereafter.
Ultimately, true leadership is measured not by the exercise of power, but by the fulfilment of trust. Whether viewed through modern management principles or Islamic values of Amanah , authority is a responsibility to serve, protect, and empower others. Positions and titles are fleeting, but character, integrity, and the way we treat people leave an enduring legacy. A great leader does not rule through fear, but leads with wisdom, humility, and justice.
