How Your Insecurities Affect Your Leadership

I don’t know anyone who’d say they’d want to work for an insecure leader, but how many of us would admit to struggling with our own insecurities…

• Insecure in our industry knowledge
• Insecure in our ability to make the sale
• Insecure in our performance
• Insecure in our influence

Feeling a bit unsure, insecure, and doubtful is normal. But letting those fears direct how we lead and make decisions is not okay.

When we are driven by our insecurities at work, we:

• Keep our guard up: Insecurity prevents vulnerability. Vulnerability is an important leadership trait.
• Compete against one another: Co-workers go from collaborators to competitors. We sometimes work against them, and when they fail, we’re secretly satisfied.
• Close communication: The higher the level of insecurity, the more information is valued, protected, and treated as power.

The result is increased costs…high costs that come in the form of missed collaboration, missed opportunities, and failed relationships.

So, how can we work to keep our insecurities at bay?

• Empower. A weak team isn’t the mark of a strong leader. Empower your team – to learn, to make decisions, and to grow in their area of responsibilities.
• Allow mistakes. Note I didn’t say encourage mistakes. But if you want your people to be real, you are going to have to make it safe for them to make – and learn from – their mistakes.
• Check the ego. Egos beget egos. Leave yours behind, and those around you will eventually follow suit. Authenticity in today’s world is both rare and refreshing.

Stop trying to protect, hide, or defend your insecurities. Overtime your insecurities will be seen and felt, and that will harm your credibility. Focus on doing the right things, and good things will happen in return.