What makes someone a leader? Are they hired for a position of authority, and the Leadership Fairy pays them a visit and sprinkles magic dust on them? Do they start a business, hire a couple of employees, and suddenly stars instantly align and shine directly on them. (Think - Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption) Or, is it that your actions cause others choose to follow and support you?

This is the first thing you need to know about leadership, it is not a title you call yourself; it is a title you earn.

Most people make a conscious decision to be a leader like Rebecca Thorman the executive director at MAGNET. She is young and raw and very talented. She is eager to make a difference in the world so she has hurled herself head first into the Lions Den. What makes her stand out is she is willing to do what it takes to become a great leader.

Some are pushed into leadership, but make the necessary adjustments to a great at it.

Then there are others who jump in, confused about what it takes, and, as a result, remain stagnant and struggle.

I have a friend who has a few blind spots. My friend has the potential to be a great leader, but like so many others, inluding myself, he struggles with the Five Fatal Flaws of Leaders.

Insecurity – A leader who is insecure should never become a leader, or a person of authority for that matter. Their leadership style is characterized as Authorocratic, which is nothing more than a polite way of saying you are a tyrannist.

Insecurity causes a leader to make poor choices. They are so afraid to show their blind spots that they will go to any length to hide them. This causes them to distance themselves from their inner circle, pushing them further into isolation.

Trust – Trust is the single most important trait a leader can possess. An inconsistent leader is expedient at best – meaning they are guided by what is advantageous and self-serving. In my opinion, there is nothing more dangerous than an unethical or immoral leader.

Inconsistency – Employees do what they see modeled. It is purely that simply. When you say one thing and do another you become inconsistent. The result is that it reduces your credibility. Employees are far to smart to follow an inconsistent leader. The strongest leaders are those whose actions influence first.

Pride – the greatest enemy of a leader is their ego. Have you ever heard, “Pride comes before the fall”? Pride in a leader has two consequences:

1. It distances you from your supporters. Because you think you are better than they are you place yourself on a pedestal above them. Then you lose touch with your people.

2. You believe you can never fail and this disallows you from being able to look at yourself with a critical eye. The lens by which you see yourself and others becomes distorted. You begin judging yourself by intentions and others by their actions, and leaders who see life this way are more concerned with Who Is Right; rather than What Is Right.

No Personal Growth – As a leader it is very important to understand that your supporters can only learn what you learn and go as far as you go. Furthermore, great leaders understand whatever they know; they have not always known it. This drives them to see more, do more, and learn more. Always ready for whatever is thrown at them and willing to adapt and change quickly.

Have you ever heard the comment, “It is lonely at the top?” Any leader who has ever said this is not a leader. If you are lonely at the top, no one is following you. As one expert said, “The real test of leadership is: If you had no ability to reward or penalize others, could you still get them to follow you?”

Unfortunately, for many self-described leaders, if their employees did not colleted a paycheck, no one would be following them.

Do you call yourself a leader? If so, rate yourself in the areas mentioned above honestly. No one is watching or listening. Then think of ways you could improve your blind spots and watch your Leadership Value improve.

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