Celebrity coaches and internationally acclaimed authors have delivered to the world priceless material containing time-tested prescriptions for Success in Leadership. It is true that ‘Failure’ is listed before ‘Success’ in the dictionary; however Failures in Leadership, are but ‘broken rungs’ on the ladder to the Ultimate Success. Leaders must vault over and reach higher.

       Let’s learn some of the major causes of Failure in Leadership.

Inability to organize details. Efficient Leadership calls for ability to organize and master details. The effective organizer will be admired by the followers who in turn will endeavor to emulate. No True Leader is ever ‘too busy’ to do anything which may be required of him in his/her capacity of Leader. The successful Leader must be the Master of all details associated with his/ her position.

Unwillingness to render Humble Service. Great Leaders should be willing, able and ready to perform any sort of tasks which normally they would assign another person to perform. As I wrote in my January 1st, 2015 post. “It is all about servitude’.

Expectation of compensation for their reputation and what ‘they know’ instead of what they do with that which they know. A True Leader must be a doer and induce others to do, by teaching and coaching from their wealth of knowledge.

Fear of Competition from followers. A True Leader should be self-assured and confident in order to constantly endeavor to promote followers and not to fear that their growth and advancement may eclipse his position in the company. Smart Leaders are smarter by surrounding themselves with smart and ambitious followers. Quote from Michelangelo “ The Greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it”

Lack of Imagination. Without imagination, the Leader is incapable of meeting emergencies and of creating plans which provide guidelines to the followers. Quote from Albert Einstein “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

Selflessness. A leader who claims all the credit and honor for the work of his followers and for the overall achievement, is bound to be met by resentment and even more detrimentally, by lack of support and cooperation. No Leader should act as if he/ she is ‘Almighty’.

Intemperance. Followers do not respect an intemperate leader. “ Albert Einstein “ One thing you cannot get rid of by losing it, is your temper”

Disloyalty. The Leader who is not loyal to his trust, and his associates, those above him and those below him, cannot maintain the leadership for a very long time.

Emphasis of the ‘authority’ of leadership. If a Leader is a real Leader he/she will have no need to toot his/her own horn to advertise that fact. I encourage leaders to read “Lions don’t need to roar” by D.A. Benton.

Emphasis of title. Titles are definitions of one’s position and the ensuing authority. It is definitely necessary on the organization chart. However, the competent Leader would manifest his/her leadership skills and personal talents, gaining the respect of the followers without the display of the lapel badge.

Those are among the more common causes of failure in leadership. The above statements have been, in part, compiled from the priceless and inspirational books of the legendary author Napoleon Hill and other iconic figures in the world of Leadership.

John C. Maxwell wrote and I highly recommend the book ‘Failing Forward’. Excellent read as all his books.