7 deadly sins of leadership

Leadership is not as easy as it seems. Being at the forefront of the multitude makes you an instant target. The temptations are numerous and can be overwhelming. You don’t have to search for them; they will come straight to your doorstep and if any leeway is given, will find their way in. Standing on the mountaintop can make one think they are invincible. However, too many leaders at the pinnacle of success are falling due to foolish mistakes.

More emphasis needs to be placed on avoiding these improprieties, which can abbreviate success.

 

Lust

The battle begins in the mind. You are what you feed yourself. Forbidden fruit may taste sweet but it has bitter consequences. Discipline and self-control are crucial. Today you can’t pick up the newspaper without reading of some politician, public or prominent figure of society succumbing to this vice. Cherishing lust will erode your reasoning and cloud your judgment. I can’t say this enough “think before you act”. Is it really worth it? Can you play with fire and not get burned? If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is. Some pay steeply more than others.

 

Pride

The ego must go. It’s not about you. Build a strong team and surround yourself with smart, passionate and highly competent people. Developing leadership skills is a lifetime project. It’s too easy, as a leader, to feel like you have to be the one who knows everything. Great leaders recognize that they need to keep learning. Additionally, treat everyone with respect at all times whether they are employees, customers, suppliers, or partners. Be humble. The more humble you remain, the more subordinates would be motivated to share their suggestions and recommendations with you. The greater your success, the more you need to stay in touch with fresh opinions and perspectives and welcome honest feedback.

 

Sloth

Get rid of complacency. Embrace change. Be adaptable. Consumer needs and the market place are ever evolving. The global playing field has leveled. As a result of continuous technology acceleration, the change is rapid, inevitable and unstoppable. Listen to what your customers and employees are saying and go back to the drawing board. I remember once making a recommendation to a boss and being told thanks but no thanks. “This is how we have always done things and we will continue to do it this way.”

 

Greed

Greed and Dishonesty go hand in hand. Reputation, integrity and credibility are everything. Your reputation, whether good or bad, will spread faster than a viral video on YouTube. Once lost it is extremely difficult to regain. Keep pinching the cookie and, before long, you will be grabbing by the handful. I often say “dishonesty is like digging a deep hole for yourself, you can never control the depth of the consequences”. Many years ago, when I was very young, I stole a snack from the village shop and my mother gave me a good spanking. I can never forget her words. “You must not touch what is not yours!” Those words are embedded in my mindset. Even if you are not caught, you will be forfeiting peace of mind as you have to be constantly looking over your shoulder.

 

Envy

Executive infighting and power struggle. If you don’t control your emotions, they will control you. Envy is like a consuming vine and can lead to anger, resentment and bitterness. It can reduce once rational people to insane behaviour. Chose to live beyond your emotions.

These lessons need to be revisited over and over and taught to seasoned as well as upcoming leaders. Don’t think you cannot be susceptible. Even those who should know better are succumbing to these vices. It’s important to set your standards early on. Take heed. A little compromise here and there and before you know it, the tree of stained character is full-grown.

Always have your head on and stay focused. There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. Most individuals don’t start out that way. Moreover, toxic emotions will destroy you. Don’t allow them to gain residency status. It’s so sad, the amount of hard work, time and effort these individuals invest into reaching where they are, then to blithely trade it for a gold plated dime.