Two Types of Role Models: The Good and the Bad
- Alison Nissen
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
We’ve all worked with that one individual who has a little bit of power over us—the team lead, a boss, or some executive. On the surface, they seem to command respect, but underneath, it’s more about control than connection.
Queen Bee was exactly that: the professional version of Mean Girls: bossy, sharp-tongued, and manipulative enough to make you want her approval even as she tore others down.
It was through working with her that I learned what kind of leader I never wanted to be. And that’s the power of an anti-role model: they teach you (sometimes painfully) how to lead by contrast.
When we think of personal growth or leadership development, we often focus on positive role models, those inspiring individuals who show us what’s possible. But there’s equal value in identifying anti-role models, people who demonstrate what we want to avoid.
Together, they create a full picture of who we aspire to be.
The Power of a Role Model
Role models give us something to strive for. They offer clarity in chaos, consistency in values, and a visible path toward growth. Watching how they communicate, handle stress, or treat others provides us with practical, human examples to emulate. Role models spark motivation and offer hope that we can do this too.
The Anti-Role Model
On the flip side, anti-role models are just as important. These are the people whose choices, attitudes, or behaviors leave us thinking, I never want to lead like that. They reveal what happens when ego overshadows empathy, or when leadership becomes control rather than influence. They can also trigger reflection: Why does that behavior frustrate me? What would I do differently?
Rather than resenting them, we can learn from them.
Why You Need Both
Having both types of models sharpens your values. In a recent ABOVE CENTER® Leadership Podcast, VP of Human Resources, Chief Human Resources Officer at Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Christine Johnson shares how role models illuminate the best paths forward and how anti-role models highlight the warning signs along the way. Christine shares that when she hears stories of people who have experienced bad teams or bad bosses, she thinks: “I don't want to lead like that. I don't want to be that person.” Instead, she purposefully determines how she wants to show up to work with people moving forward.
The positive role model pulls you toward your better self; the anti-role model pushes you away from your worst instincts. Together, they offer a powerful guide for decision-making, self-awareness, and intentional leadership.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to mimic or rebel—it’s to become. To choose your own version of what living and leading well looks like.
That’s the heart of ABOVE CENTER®. Not perfection, but intention. It’s the daily practice of noticing, learning, and choosing how you show up.
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About the author: As the co-founder and Chief Storytelling Officer of Revel Coach, a career growth platform, Alison Nissen helps leaders perfect their business pitches and online presence through storytelling. Successful executives use key storytelling points to engage their audience and gain market share because they know good storytelling is the best form of marketing, recruiting, and fundraising. Write Your Book NOW! Mastermind enrolling now.
The Revel Coach™ Blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not mental health, financial, business or legal advice. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any medical, mental or emotional condition. The information presented here is not a guarantee that you will obtain any results or earn any money using our content.
