The disease of thinking we are immortal, immune, or downright indispensable, [and therefore] neglecting the need for regular check-ups. A leadership team which is not self-critical, which does not keep up with things, which does not seek to be more fit, is a sick body. A simple visit to the cemetery might help us see the names of many people who thought they were immortal, immune, and indispensable! It is the disease of those who turn into lords and masters, who think of themselves as above others and not at their service. It is the pathology of power and comes from a superiority complex, from a narcissism which passionately gazes at its own image and does not see the face of others, especially the weakest and those most in need. The antidote to this plague is humility; to say heartily, “I am merely a servant. I have only done what was my duty.”
Gary Hamel, The Fifteen Diseases of Leadership, according to Pope Francis
I am sure that it did not require you to read the whole paragraph for your brain to efficiently -not necessarily fairly- volunteer at least a couple of names of people you are convinced suffer from this disease. Most likely, you not only identified them but also -at least briefly- re-lived the emotions you experienced with these persons, and instead of thinking about them as ‘victims’ of the disease, you positioned yourself and others as ‘their’ victims.
Perhaps the people you have identified do suffer from this disease, individually or collectively. Perhaps they have lost their compass and behave as if the world turns around them, as if they are always right, better than everyone else, and as if they are entitled to dictate and others mandated to obey. Perhaps, you -or others you know- have indeed been at the receiving end of their superiority complex, understandably considering yourselves as their ‘victims’. However, have you for once considered the effects that this narcissistic approach has on these people?
If you have yet to put yourself in their shoes, perhaps you are not as far from their self-centeredness as you believe, and it might be good to vaccinate yourself against this disease with a good dose of empathy.
On the other hand, if you have put yourself in their shoes, or after you do, what is your assessment? Do you think they are happy, wholesome, respected, admired, loved? Or instead feared, ridiculed in private, manipulated, loathed? I submit that, with a few exceptions, it is the latter, and -if so- then it is only humane to consider them ‘victims’ of their own despotism and worthy of our sympathy and support.
Furthermore, have you pondered how much of this ‘virus’ is growing or has taken root in you? Are you sure that you are not on someone else’s list of ‘infected people’? No doubt I am on that list for some… thus my efforts to not increase my nominations!
Do you happen to have ‘all the answers, all the time’? Are you the only one who ‘gets it’? Have you noticed how do you react to criticism from your peers, supervisors, or supervisees? Do your title and the perks that come with it define how you treat others and how you expect to be treated? These are symptoms of the disease, pay attention and take action.
As Pope Francis noted, the antidote to this disease is humility, and in the corporate world, this has been termed “Servant Leadership” i.e. a conviction that instead of having the employees serve the leader, the leader serves the employees to achieve better and more sustainable results. The article linked above lists 10 principles of servant leadership that may prevent us from being infected with the disease of thinking we are immortal, immune, or downright indispensable. And if not able to prevent the infection, it at least would help us get healed quickly and with fewer secondary effects.
By the way, when was the last time you took a long vacation? Or do you believe you are indispensable in your job?
I invite you to check the following videos if you want to get several doses of the vaccine and the necessary boosters!
Ken Blanchard – Servant Leadership – YouTube
The subversive power of servant leadership | Ian Fuhr | TEDxJohannesburg – YouTube
Ken Blanchard on Servant Leadership – YouTube
Ken Blanchard & Simon Sinek Leadership – YouTube
May I simply say what a relief to uncover somebody that really understands what theyre discussing over the internet. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people really need to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that youre not more popular because you certainly have the gift.
Thank you for your generous comment. The initiative came up at the start of the pandemic, as an internal work mail designed to connect colleagues and friends who could no longer get together in the office. Then they asked to share the content outside of the office group, with their families and their friends, and the blog came about. I’m glad you find it useful and very grateful for your encouragement to continue.