This is part of the series Catalyst 2013.
I am in the pre-conference lab right now, “Just Lead! A Survival Guide for Women Leaders and Those Who Lead Them.”
If it seems strange that I’m in a a workshop for women leaders, let me clarify that this is by accident! I tried to go to John Acuff’s session and couldn’t find it. So, having gotten back late from lunch, I jumped into this session because it’s the next one I saw and I know that the presenters are top notch.
This lab is led by Jenni Catron, executive director at Cross Point Church, and Sherry Surratt, CEO of MOPS International. Together, they are authors of Just Lead!: A No Whining, No Complaining, No Nonsense Practical Guide for Women Leaders in the Church.
Here are two of the key points, which are fantastic. First, “you can lead well, or you can lead alone. But you can’t do both.” Well said.
Second, as most of us have experienced, insecure leaders are among the hardest to work for. Sherry gave a great summary of why this is so:
Insecure leaders try to control everything. They avoid risk. They are closed in their relationships. They don’t hire 10s, because they are afraid the 10 will outshine them. They fail to affirm and empower others. Insecure leaders create environments of insecurity.
There is probably nothing that will limit your leadership like insecurity. And insecurity leads to fear, and makes you think small.
When people pretend, they over compensate, and other people see through it.
Excellent points.
For more on insecurity in leadership, and what to do about it, check out John Maxwell’s article: Why Insecure Leaders are So Bad.