Leadership derailment is when a leader displays certain negative behaviors or traits that disrupt their effectiveness. Common causes of leadership derailment include:
- Overuse of Strengths: Leaders might rely too heavily on their natural strengths, which can backfire if not balanced with other qualities. For example, a decisive leader might be overly controlling.
- Interpersonal Blind Spots: Poor communication or a lack of empathy can alienate team members, creating conflicts or eroding trust.
- Resistance to Change: Leaders who are inflexible and unable to adapt to new challenges, technologies, or market conditions may struggle to keep up.
- Failure to Manage Relationships: Those who neglect to build networks or collaborate effectively can struggle in larger organizational contexts where alliances are key.
- Poor Self-Awareness: Leaders who are unaware of their weaknesses and how they impact others may continue making the same mistakes without self-correction.
Recognizing these derailers early can help leaders make adjustments, seek feedback, and develop areas that may be holding them back from achieving their full potential. Leadership coaching often focuses on identifying and managing these risks to prevent derailment