Superheroes have their villains, and WOW leaders have their own kind of nemesis–the DUD. Naturally, we revere the superhero and loathe the villain…but what would one be without the other? There’s no yin without the yang, no good without the bad. So when it comes to villains and DUDs, it’s not always black and white–there are lessons to be learned from the opposition.

Every superhero has a nemesis or two. Superman has Lex Luthor; Spiderman has the Green Goblin; and Batman is regularly challenged by a long list of rivals, such as the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Cat Woman, to name a few. In the same way, every aspiring or current WOW leader has faced their own brand of villain at one time or another when they’ve come up against DUD leaders. The question is, are they strong enough to rise up like a superhero and overcome the opposition, or do they turn their backs on their powers and give in to the dark side?

Superheroes aren’t just heroes because they have the ability to do extraordinary things…it’s because they care enough to be heroic when it counts. We need them to foil the villain, rescue the “fair maiden,” and save the world as we know it, but they certainly aren’t required to do it. With the powers they possess, superheroes could just as easily do evil rather than good. But they don’t. They choose to be heroes, not villains.

In many ways, the same is true in every real-life workplace around the globe. We need our bosses to lead us forward, show us the way, teach us, and protect our job security by caring enough to be WOWs, not DUDs. We need them to choose to do right and to go above and beyond to be the superhero of the company or the team. Not for the glory, not for the fame, not for the money–but for the benefit of those they lead.

Here are a few lessons we can learn about villains and DUDs:

• Good does triumph over bad–in life and at work. Like comic book villains, DUD leaders may seem to have the upper hand at times, but eventually, they fall.
• Villains and DUDs prize themselves above all else, so they don’t necessarily regard themselves as “bad leaders” or “evil.”
• DUDs are often misguided and lost when it comes to following the right path. They often operate without integrity, honesty, and authenticity because they wrongfully believe the end justifies the means.
• Villains and DUDs are not impervious to the superhero or the WOW leader…they can, and often are, defeated.
• DUD leaders and villains may seem to be in control, but in reality, they don’t have the foresight, the heart, or the skills to hold on to it and ultimately succeed.
• The only ones who follow DUDs and villains are more DUDs and villains. The average, mainstream individual, and those aspiring to be WOWs, do not support or stand behind the decisions and actions of DUDs.

Being a superhero or a WOW leader isn’t necessarily about having the most power, being the most intelligent, or possessing the best skills. It’s not about being perfect, or never making mistakes. DUD leaders and villains are typically super intelligent, highly skilled, and capable of being as powerful and successful as their “good” counterparts. The difference is in their motivation, their drive, and in how they implement and use their skills and powers. While WOW leaders choose to serve the greater good to the best of their abilities, DUDs choose to use their abilities to best serve themselves. They may not be inherently evil, like a comic book villain, but they’re inherently self-serving, which is totally contrary to the code of the superhero.

When it comes to DUDs and villains, they are, in some ways, a necessary evil. After all, in the same way the world wouldn’t need the superhero without the villain, we wouldn’t recognize and appreciate WOW leaders without having to deal with a few DUD leaders along the way.

–Sheri Staak