This book, by David Dotlich and Peter Cairo, highlights some specific leadership failures:
- The vast majority of leaders do not receive adequate feedback to help them understand their own personalities. Once they do, they are capable of adjusting their behaviors in ways that lead to increased success (p. xxi). So, why don’t we provide personality feedback coaching more often to leaders? Never underestimate the power of personality in undermining the success of even the most brilliant and well-suited leader (p. 62).
- In stressful situations, leaders respond with a pattern of behavior that can sabotage their jobs and careers (p. xi, Ram Charan). Leadership is a function of the characteristics of individuals (p. xiii), which they need to manage: both negative impulses and derailers.
- Derailers (part of your personality) emerge most commonly under stress. Leaders need to learn how to manage/adjust to become more effective, or failure is bound to happen. The higher one rises in an organization, the less likely people will tell them about their failure-producing characteristics.
Some derailers include:
- Arrogance – excessive pride, inflated views of self-worth; thrives on success, confidence, ego.
- Melodrama – exaggerated emotion/action, attention-getting; says what comes to mind, fails to follow through on commitments/doesn’t deliver on promises, needs to consciously listen.
- Volatility – outbursts; there is gap between intention and impact.
- Excessive caution – indecision vs. prudent/thorough; risks acting before all facts are in.
- Habitual distrust – constantly watching; creates bureaucratic policies; self-fulfilling prophecies of betrayal.
- Aloofness – isolates from people, ideas, and information; has false assumptions/miscommunications.
- Mischievousness – challenges the status quo; has spontaneous, provocative ideas without sufficient planning so commitment is questioned.
- Eccentricity – sees business differently; has unique approaches; needs partner to execute ideas/turn these into action; flourishes in creative, idea-oriented, flexible and changing environments.
What personality trait do you have that could be your derailer?
