How to Recognize Pridefulness in Leadership
Pride is the opposite of what servant leaders should embody. When we are placed in a leadership position, we tend to develop some feeling that we have a sense of power and that we are important. This feeling that we deserve something based on accomplishments or status can easily go to our heads and change the way we view ourselves and others.
Scripture reminds us to boast in Christ rather than in ourselves. This is a truth that I try to remind myself of often. As we are living in this world, there are goals we have set that cause us to chase success. While success, in and of itself, is not bad, every once in a while we are in need of a reality check to fight against pridefulness. Are we pursuing our goals to glorify ourselves and elevate ourselves above others, or are we seeking the will of God for our lives to bring Him glory?
Jeremiah 9:23–24 reads, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Sometimes it is difficult to identify when we are indulging in our self-seeking prideful tendencies, and in turn, how our actions and attitudes are affecting those around us. Here are three dangers of which to be wary.
Micromanaging
When we micromanage there is a clear desire for control that reveals a lack of trust in the employee on whom we should be helping grow in their career. It can lead others to believe that you don’t have faith in their capabilities, knowledge and skills. Try to stay away from making all the decisions, setting extremely high expectations and focusing solely on details rather than the big picture and outcome. Have confidence that your employees can do the job for which you hired them and rely less on the belief that you can do it better than them. Everyone will approach a problem in a different way, and just because they go about it differently than you would, doesn’t make your approach better. Discuss with them the outcome you are seeking, provide them the tools and the information they need to be successful (including things to watch out for that you know about from your experience), answer their questions, and let them approach the solution in their own way. Then praise them for their success.
Ignoring Shortcomings
A tried and true sign of pridefulness is failing to recognize when you make a mistake. Prideful leaders don’t like to have their weaknesses pointed out and when they do, they won’t own up to them. It takes humility to recognize you are not perfect and will have failures. That is okay because so will everyone else. A good leader will let down their pride and take those experiences as learning opportunities to better themselves to serve those around them. They will be the first to admit their mistakes and explain to others what they learned from their mistake. This approach will create tremendous trust among your team.
Making Excuses
In addition to ignoring our shortcomings, making excuses for mistakes or our actions may be even worse as a leader. The pride we are finding worth in is telling us we are not enough. We feel that by making excuses for why we missed a deadline, were late to work or in completing a project, or forgot to run an errand for our spouse will pardon us from the mistake, and others will still think highly of who we are. As leaders, we have influence and when we create habits such as excuse-making which will then set the example for our employees to also fail to admit to what they do. Successful leaders will own up to their mistakes and take full responsibility, even if some blame should rightfully be placed on others. This too will create an atmosphere of trust and respect among your team.
Check-in daily on yourself and examine in what ways pride is hindering the impact and influence you have on others. If you are bold and truly want to become an effective servant leader, reach out to your co-workers, family or friends and ask them to help you identify the pride that may be infiltrating its way into your life. Remember that good intentions and desires to be a great and respected leader can be offset by our selfish ambitions and pride in our own hearts.