6 Signs That Suggest You May Be An Insecure Leader

Leadership success requires a great deal of confidence. The path of a leader is filled with issues that require dispassionate thinking and tough decision-making. An insecure leader would find it almost impossible to operate successfully in the murky waters of leadership without wrecking the ship through primordial sentiments and self-doubt. 

How do you know if you are an insecure leader? Here are 6 signs that suggest you may be an insecure leader:

Unnecessarily controlling:

 Insecure leaders always feel they lack what it takes to have the respect of others and the only way to gain that respect is by bulling their way through and constantly dominating the space. They control the conversation because to them controlling the conversation translates to controlling their team members. They dictate how other people should do their work regardless of the reality on the ground. Insecure leaders despise other people's opinions and impose their opinion on others. They want to have the final say and get antagonistic when their view is challenged.

Willingness to Manipulate the process

Instead of depending on merit,  insecure leaders intentionally twist facts and exploit sectional sentiments to favor their course. They don't mind cheating the system to gain the upper hand when under pressure. They make promises they don't intend to keep just to get people to do their bidding. They do not mind sacrificing the organization's collective future just to please people. They are selective in their dealings. with team members, favoring only those who they perceive as being on their side while marginalizing others. 

Intolerant of dissenting views 

The inability to trust people makes it difficult for insecure leaders to accept hard honest feedback and outright voices of dissent. They view every opposition as a threat. They are disproportionately defensive and hostile to perspectives that don't align with their view and seek to crush critics and all forms of opposition. Insecure leaders do not hesitate to use their authority as a defense mechanism. They threaten and remind everyone that they have the advantage of the power and may choose to assert that power at any moment including unfairly.

Discredit others 

Insecure leaders want to be perceived as the most important figure. They are willing to achieve it by pulling others down. They exaggerate the weakness of other people to rubbish their image. They are dismissive of the spectacular contributions of others. They highlight only the flaws in the good effort of promising team members and portray them as inadequate. They divert the credit for group success to themselves and ignore the decisive contributions of others. 

Threatened by the popularity of  others

 Insecure leaders often get into bitter and unwarranted competition with emerging competent, hardworking, and talented individuals within the team who possess what it takes to become leaders and they clandestinely work to undermine their rise. They deny them recommendations that especially might result in promotions because of the fear of being replaced or outclassed. 

Avoid necessary confrontations 

Insecure leaders are driven by the desire for public validation. They want to be in the good books of everyone and to be well-spoken always. Such cravings make them shy away from making necessary confrontations handling conflicts, and delicate issues, and making hard decisions for fear of offending one of the parties. 

In conclusion, if you exhibit the signs listed above, it may be an indication that you are an insecure leader and needs to make the necessary adjustments or seek professional help in order not to wreck your leaders