In the corporate world, C-suite executives and managers are often extremely accomplished individuals who have climbed the ladder of success through hard work and determination. Unfortunately, with authority and success, there sometimes comes a risk of developing a superiority complex, where leaders start to view themselves as infallible and become disconnected from their teams. This dangerous mindset can have detrimental effects on organizational culture, employee morale and overall performance.
Below, as 20 Forbes Human Resources Council members explore the importance of humility in leadership, they also examine the reasons why executives at every level must actively avoid falling prey to a superiority complex. Implement these tips to combat this way of thinking.
1. Promote Innovation Through Engagement And Discussion
Managers should lead by example and if they have a superiority complex, it could reflect on the team, and others could adopt that attitude. Or, they may never share ideas due to feeling like they will not measure up. As a result, this could cause a myriad of negative cultural issues, and would not bode well for employee retention or engagement. Managers should be open and encourage discussion and innovation. – Erin ImHof, CertiK
2. Take Ownership Of Your Complex
With the superiority complex comes high turnover and resentment. It is impossible to have a healthy work culture with this mentality. The best leaders are the ones who lead by example, give credit where credit is due, and take ownership. Superiority often stems from the ego; leaders must ask themselves, “What is triggering my complex?” – Patricia Karam, Mission Recruit
3. Lean Into Others For Support
There are a million reasons why one develops a superiority complex, but keeping it will hinder your effectiveness in your career. Once you have accepted it exists, then start to lean into the people around you by asking for help. Few people will reject a request for help and in lowering your guard and showing vulnerability, one can shift to a more effective partnership and work environment. – Jessica Wallen, Marten Law
4. Accept That You Are Still Learning
There is a balance between being confident and showing confidence and understanding that none of us are finished products. Leaders who lean on humility, empathy, transparency and vulnerability go further than those who fake it until they make it with an ego-forward approach. You will grow better leadership muscle if you listen to your team, build trust and own the fact that you are still learning yourself. – Cat Colella-Graham
5. Embrace Collaboration And Diverse Perspectives
Executives are responsible for fostering collaboration and encouraging diverse perspectives. By embracing humility, leaders promote a culture of openness, learning and growth. In turn, we build stronger relationships internally, as well as with our clients, partners and other stakeholders, leading to long-term success. – Kshitij Jain, Joveo
6. Avoid Distance Between Leadership And Team
It is important that executives consider the impacts of creating space between their team members and themselves. That distance can have a negative impact on the trust and communication between the team and leadership. – Cynamon Voe Scott, DuploCloud Inc.
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7. Understand Your Role
Executives and managers must avoid the superiority complex to create an environment of trust, mutual respect and open communication. This mindset allows for open collaboration and increased trust between team members, thereby creating a healthier and more productive workspace. Leaders should focus on understanding their role in facilitating, guiding and supporting their team’s growth. – Laura Spawn, Virtual Vocations, Inc.
8. Remove ‘Better Than’ Attitudes From The Workplace
Leaders acting “better than” others create toxic cultures that stifle productivity, innovation and engagement. In today’s human-centric organizations, there is no room for those who lack care and capability to (re)design work environments that promote democratization. Employees who perceive preferential treatment will leave and go work for your competition where superior attitudes are nonexistent. – Laci Loew, XpertHR (a division of LexisNexis)
9. Focus On Being Compassionate And Serving Others
I use servant leadership to stay grounded and humble. I believe that titles are temporary, and we should all lead with compassion and focus on serving others. When we do this, we create a more positive and productive work environment for everyone. If you are a leader, I encourage you to try this philosophy—you may be surprised by how positively your team may respond! – Bala Sathyanarayanan, Greif Inc
10. Be A Curious Leader
Curiosity is the most undervalued competency that leaders can have. When leaders rely on their teams for their expertise and ask questions, it showcases openness, trust and humility in not knowing it all. This, in turn, creates a feeling of empowerment for employees that they will be relied upon for the job they were hired to do. – Halai Shukran, Pluribus Digital
11. Ask Interns And Entry-Level Employees To Share Ideas
We’ve all been in situations where we thought we knew everything and were either surprised to learn we didn’t or were surprised that another idea worked just as well as ours. The truth is, the next great innovators and leaders are among your interns and entry-level employees. It’s essential to create an environment that encourages them to brainstorm and grow in order for your company to flourish. – Ursula Mead, InHerSight
12. Be A Playing Coach
Whenever possible and it’s reasonable, be a playing coach. This gives you a clear picture of the challenges down on the floor and helps you stay closer to the team, understand the knowledge gaps and elevate the firm. – Nick Frey, Avomind
13. Avoid Stifling Creativity And Communication
A superiority complex must be avoided to foster innovation and boost morale. Open dialogue, diverse ideas and empathy should be encouraged. A superiority complex can block progress by stifling communication and creativity. It hampers innovation, discourages communication, breeds discontent and obstructs a company’s path to success. Everyone’s voice, no matter their level, fuels progress. – Siddharth Sharma, JP Morgan Chase & Co.
14. Knock Off The ‘Know It All’ Attitude
A superiority complex drives a “know it all” attitude and if anyone, let alone a leader or manager, falls into that mindset then they will not entertain different perspectives and viewpoints nor will they be able to learn new things. This will lead to poor decision-making and impact business adversely as well as create a submissive and negative culture within the teams. – Akhilesh Nair, Talent Group Partners
15. Reflect On Times Of Growth During Adversity
Not only can a superiority complex alienate employees from executives and managers, but it can also blind leaders to opportunities for learning and growth. Leaders who feel themselves developing a superiority complex out of frustration with their team can remember the times when they grew through adversity. These reflections can help them relate to younger or less experienced employees. – Niki Jorgensen, Insperity
16. Build Trust Through Improved Communication
Executives must avoid the superiority complex to foster a positive work environment, promote teamwork and encourage innovation. A superiority complex can create a toxic atmosphere, hinder collaboration and stifle growth. Leaders can build trust, improve communication and drive organizational success by engaging employees and valuing everyone’s ideas and opinions. – Gordon Pelosse, CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association
17. Adopt An Empathetic And Humble Approach
A superiority complex can create a toxic environment, marked by intimidation and a disregard for employee opinions, which can hinder innovation and productivity. Further, it can impact employee morale and turnover rates negatively. Adopting an empathetic and humble approach encourages open communication, collaboration and improves overall team performance – Joseph Soares, IBPROM Corp.
18. Create A High-Belonging Team
Humble confidence fosters a healthy and collaborative team environment. Not being the smartest person in the room gives space for others to stretch and contribute which nurtures inclusion. High-belonging teams are high-performing teams. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal
19. Celebrate Open Dialogue And Collective Victories
Leaders exerting a superiority complex can trigger a psychologically unsafe space and mute the inventiveness of their team. Instead, foster an open dialogue, actively seek input from all team members and celebrate collective victories. This way, everyone feels valued, and you create a symphony of ideas that drive innovation. – Ahva Sadeghi, Symba
20. Balance Confidence And Vulnerability
Avoiding a superiority complex is crucial for leaders. It hampers learning, growth and stifles the organization. It diminishes others, fostering a culture of complacency and toxicity. True leaders balance confidence and vulnerability, nurturing growth and fostering a thriving organization. – Sudhir Singh, Sound Agriculture
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