The position of leader is tricky. You must scold, challenge, make unpopular decisions, deny others, stop people, push them. There is no choice. If you don’t do all these as a leader you’ll have nothing to lead.
But the point is not to do these negative actions to such extent that your most talented followers will start wanting to leave and have visions of being a better ceo than you. They should not think, “what does he think of himself? Just because he’s holding more authority gives him no right to talk to be like that. I could do better as a leader. One day I’m going to show him what being a leader means.”
You don’t want this mindset breeding in your top team.
If you have an uncontrollable ego you will keep doing what you have done before that got you so much success, “had I listened to them, we would never have reached her. They don’t know anything. I’m not the leader for nothing.”
Consequently the earlier thought of your followers, will increase in intensity. Eventually, circumstances will align themselves that when your project needs the top team most, they would have already made an exit plan. Strangely, that plan would be a parallel project in which they would be the leader copying the correct things you did and not doing the things you did they found repugnant.
Then they’ll leave. Now you are left with followers without much talent but suppressed egos, dubious ethics because no man of integrity can take insults too many times.
The message is clear, in the long run out doesn’t pay to be an incorrigible ass hole leader.
I’ve seen this basic plot unfold in many cases. It is a sad portrait.
Financial loss is the small part. The bigger part is how a great vision shatters.
