Why Great Leaders Fall
One of the saddest storylines to hear about is the fall of great leaders. I am not writing about this to cast any judgment. I am completely capable of any failure that another person is capable of. When I see the failure of someone around me, my first thought is to find out why it happened so I don’t do the same thing.
Growing up with four older siblings I learned to be an observer of people. I have always watched people’s lives and wanted to know more of the story. I want to see behind the curtain to see the ingredients that produced the results.
“How did they gain their success?”
“How did they end up bankrupt?”
“How did they end up divorced?”
“Are they really happy?”
“How did their life look so perfect, but end up in such a disaster?”
“How did they raise kids who live like that?”
Why do great leaders fall and ruin their legacy?
Although all stories are not the same, I believe there is a common factor to consider.
When people are successful, they are elevated onto a pedestal…and this pedestal becomes a setup for a fall.
The pedestal causes people to have a skewed view of the leader.
If you look at a room full of people and see one person on a stage talking, it can be easy to assume that the person on the stage has arrived. Standing on an elevated stage with a microphone in hand puts the leader on a pedestal.
The owner, the CEO, the pastor…they are seen as people who have it all figured out. We can look at a performer on a stage and conclude that their life is perfect. After all, if we pay to watch you perform, you are different from the rest of us. Most speakers get on stage to declare powerful words, but it is rare they share real weakness.
These pedestals help a leader become influential. They create opportunities for those who stand on them. But this pedestal can become a trap. The leader must maintain the image that the crowd has of them. More than we realize, we pressure our leaders to have it all together. But no leader has it all together. The leader who wants to keep the pedestal will be forced to fake it…at the expense of “being” it.
Any person who stands on a stage is basically the same as those who sit in chairs. There is little difference. It is dangerous for a leader to see themselves as being above those they lead. It is also dangerous for people to look at a leader and see them as a superhuman who no longer struggles with the common things we all struggle with.
The pedestal causes the leader to have a skewed view of self.
On that pedestal the leader can feel the eyes of people on them. They must protect their image. Their image becomes their business card. It may lead to continued success, but it distracts the leader from building a life of actual substance. It takes work to sustain an image. Our reputation can grow at the same time that our depth of character is diminishing.
While standing on that pedestal a leader is praised. The leader may make the mistake of thinking they are a successful and healthy person. But being applauded for one aspect of life does not mean the leader is thriving as a person. Consider how a star high school ball player gets a lot of accolades for what they do on the field, but the rest of their life may be in ruins. When the sports career comes to an end, nothing is left.
A car can look beautiful on the outside, yet have a blown engine on the inside. A leader can look at a couple aspects of his life and flaunt them boldly, while being blind to other areas where complete failure is about to happen.
As the pedestal gets higher it gets smaller.
When a leader becomes more known it seems that the success is becoming greater. The truth is that the leader is not becoming greater, they are becoming more susceptible and more isolated.
High up on that pedestal the leader looks impressive. It appears they have made it to a great place. But high up on that pedestal are serious winds that blow. Imagine standing on top of a piece of wood that was 2 feet by 2 feet. If it was sitting on the ground it would be no problem. But what if we raise you 50 feet up in the air?
People were not made for pedestals. The leader looks down and becomes disoriented as he sees how small people seem to be. He loses touch with people and loses sight of himself. From this high place he is threatened to make decisions that are hurtful. After all, he is too high up to see the impact his decisions make on people.
The leader is also isolated. There are not many people who reach such an elevation. There isn’t a lot of space for real connection…there is only space for fame. But fame is like inhaling air that has little oxygen. It’s more deadly than it is helpful.
How Leaders Can Protect Their Legacy
As a leader, if you want to avoid the type of fall that ruins your reputation or your legacy…choose the fall of humility. Humility is the intentional lowering of ourselves. It gives us the ability to see ourselves for who we really are. We don’t see ourselves as being better than people. Instead, we hope to better the lives of others. Humility does not diminish oneself…it lifts up others. Humility does not chase us off of a stage…it causes us to not carry pride onto that stage.
How do you receive humility? By taking humble steps.
Here are some examples:
- Instead of doing and saying things that make you look impressive, do and say things that are honest and real.
- Be open with someone about the weak areas of your life.
- Take an honest inventory of who you are inside of your own home.
- Bring people into your life to help you with personal relationships.
- Find a mentor. Preferably someone who does not have a big name.