By the time you notice a saboteur’s handiwork, it’s too late:  the damage is done.  Of course, we have to guard ourselves from a myriad of things every day that can take us out, but even after a shootout, we can still shoot our own foot!

Today’s Leadership Saboteur:  The Authoritarian
 A Saboteur that poses under the guise of ”High Quality Leadership Skills.  How the Authoritarian takes us out:

• Creates a sense of independence from needing others’ ideas or input
• Insulates us from fresh perspective
• Monopolizes leadership decisions, pushing potential leaders even further away
• Locks us into ruts quick (“I’m the authority on this, so we’ll do it my way!”)

And on we go… bullet point lists ad infinitum. 

The danger in The Authoritarian is that he keeps coming back!  Every time we succeed in an endeavor, he’s watching, waiting for us - ready to convince us to become the expert in our area of success.

In other words, the very thing we succeed in has the potential to take us out. 

Some ammo to aid in your battle against the Authoritarian:

• Fight fear:  the fear of failure, fear of being wrong, and the fear of not having all the answers.  Free yourself up to need others.  Strong leaders understand their need for interdependency.
• Invite people into your circle of decision-making (or even decision evaluation) that see things differently than you.  Ask for their input.  Listen.
• Honestly evaluate if you resist change, and if so, why.  Remember:  Leaders often champion and promote change when it’s the change they came up with! 
• Stay teachable.  Read.  Ask questions.

Don’t let your most recent victory become the thing that ruts you!