Spot Insecurity in any Leader

“A lot of things can happen when you have an insecure leader.  None of it very good.”

 

If a leader is wracked with insecurity, it won’t simply render them ineffective. It will actually undermine everything they have been attempting to build.

 

But this raises an important question; “Is there an objective way to tell if you really are a secure leader?”

 

While there may be no scientifically verifiable way to know for sure, the following self-evaluation questions can give you a pretty good idea.

 

  1. If a contribution I made to a project is not publicly acknowledged, do I feel wronged?

 

  1. Do I feel a hint of jealousy when the accomplishment of a colleague is being celebrated?

 

  1. If I hear about a meeting that I was not invited to, do I feel concerned about being excluded?

 

  1. Am I uncomfortable letting someone else lead a meeting when I am technically in charge?

 

  1. Do I need to be “cc’d” on every email that flows through my department?

 

  1. Am I easily upset if someone points out ways in which my work could improve?

 

  1. Do I place my own survival ahead of the team’s mission?

 

  1. Do I get nervous if I am not hearing people say good things about me?

 

  1. Is it important that people consider me to be more successful than my predecessor?

 

  1. Do I feel in any way threatened when I see a younger leader rising through the ranks?

 

If you said “Yes” to several of these questions, you might have a concerning level of insecurity in your leadership.

 

And while there’s no magic wand you can wave to eradicate insecurity, the first step to overcoming these tendencies is through ruthless self-awareness.  Keep a list like this handy, review it often, and use it to measure your growth as a secure leader.

 

Because it’s true; a lot of things can happen when you have an insecure leader.

 

None of it very good.

 

 

I Power Seeds

Here are our takeaways and thoughts - pause and reflect, then nourish and grow!

Being secure is important for a leader.  You don’t have to be the subject matter expert to have confidence.

Enjoy.

Leave a Comment

Popular Posts

cultivating-culture

How You Made Them Feel

Why did I begin this journey? The main thought I had while completing my ITIL Practitioner Certification, there were so many frameworks, management, and leadership topics and thoughts and I

Patrick Lencioni

The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team

One the programs or methodologies I enjoyed and is the catalyst that propelled me into creating this website is Patrick Lencioni’s “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team”. It was truly

Infographic

Infographics – Very Useful Tools

I used to create an executive style summary at the end of each year, a snapshot of a dashboard if you will, and presented it to the executive team. It

Equity not Equality

Equity, Not Equality

Equity is not about treating everyone the same. That is equality. Equity has us look at each client, employee, or student as an individual. Affirm his or her identity and

The Art of Coaching

The Art of Coaching: Effective Strategies for School Transformationby Elena Aguilar   Summary of book from Amazon Hands-on resources for new and seasoned school coaches This practical resource offers the