Let’s talk about some do’s and don’ts of leadership.

There are bosses who make each work day a pleasure, who bring out the best in their staffs through  innovation, enthusiasm, recognition and honesty and by being, quite simply, good people. And there are others who turn the office into a living hell by being negative, overbearing, micromanaging pieces of misery.

What separates the two? What turns one boss into Superman and another into Lex Luther?

A couple of recent reports try to provide the answers.

First, there is “15 Ways To Be A Better Boss,” from Ajilon Finance. The moral of its story: You can reduce turnover, increase your employees’ productivity and loyalty, and be a more effective manager without sacrificing profits.

On the other side of the coin is a blog post from David Maister, who lists “20 Bad Workplace Habits” as outlined in the book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith. It’s a thoughtful look at what not to do at the managerial level. And don’t forget to read the comments; Maister’s readers offer some great opinions about damaging leadership habits.

Let’s get some discussion going here. What was the best thing — or the worst thing — you’ve ever seen one of your bosses do? If you’re a manager, what inspires you? What shapes your managerial style?