Failing Leaders

I was going through an old magazine I got at some conference I went to and I came across this top 10 list – the top 10 ways to fail as a leader. It was in the march and april 2008 version of Rev magazine (Rev.org). This is quite the collection in my mind – but so many of them are unbelievably too common. When you add a few together you get a nice recipe for a toxic environment.Here they go:

1. Fill Your Team With People Just Like You.
2. Ask Someone to do a Specific Job, and then do it Yourself
3. Don’t Trust Anyone
4. Look Out for #1
5. Exercise High Control
6. Make Sure All Ideas Originate With You
7. Foster an Atmosphere of Paranoia
8. Make Sure Nobody Appears Smarter Than You Are.
9. Have a Closed-Door Policy (Shut the Door to Feedback & Lack Teachability)
10. Conserve Affirmation

The best part of the one-page article was the insight that the authors offered. They state how most of the above failures in leadership flow from unresolved insecurities. I agree.A random observation on #1: Many leaders do struggle surrounding themselves with diversity. Yet just as damaging are leaders who have diversity around them, but who systematically get rid of those who are different or who challenge them. I think this can be subconscious or conscious.I think #10 is the one I can fall in to the most naturally. Gotta share the love more.