Invulnerability over Trust?

the finish with the last of Patrick Lencioni’s temptations of a CEO follows on well to show just how powerful the role of the ego is in leadership and team development. No one likes to admit they are wrong, however those CEO’s who know who they are and are comfortable in their own skin do not spend their time worrying excessively about how clever they are or how they appear to others. The most authentic leaders tend not to have a “public” face, as they do not need one. They are who they are, and trust people will accept them for who they are. Equally they are happy to accept they do not have all the answers and can be wrong on occasions! The ultimate success needs to be the organisation’s and not their own. Interestingly the most successful CEO’s often instigate change and vision in an organisation that is sufficiently robust in the long term that there is no need for the leader to be chasing and hounding people to make it happen! If they are having to do that, are people really engaged?

The idea of vulnerability allows people to engage in the possibility of alternatives. It allows people to declare previously hidden concerns and be able to minimise or remove them. It invites people to take more accountability for the issues of the day, and be involved in the creation of more robust, long term solutions, rather than knee jerk responses which only have the benefit of one brain evaluating a solution, rather than a team!

It is painful for the ego to let go of the desire to be right, to be protected and approved of, however another word for invulnerable is inaccessible – which makes leading and engaging others with your vision rather difficult!
Some final questions to see if you are tempted? Do you have difficulty in admitting you are wrong?
Do you try to hide your greatest weaknesses from your reports?
Do you hate the idea of asking for help?

If these temptations have at all reasonated with you, or even if they have not, you could always ask your direct reports these questions and compare your answers with theirs! – it could be illuminating to see how your ego shows up.
I hope you have found these at least thought provoking!