Hero Leader Syndrome

by Caleb Gallifant

Forbes recently released an article that addresses what is dubbed “hero leader syndrome.” The syndrome typically affects the do-it-alls, type-A personalities and the self-starters. Though Forbes is writing to a business/workplace audience, no sphere of life is exempt from the mindset and behavior they describe. The article begins strong:

Are you a what I refer to as a “hero leader?” Do you like to swoop-in and save the day? Do you see yourself as the white knight who can solve any problem or challenge? If you do, you have what I refer to as ”hero leader syndrome.” Any leader’s belief that he or she can do everything better than anyone else is a root cause of inhibiting workforce productivity. Creating unnecessary dependencies between leaders and team members, while often unintentional and/or well-intended, is nonetheless a far too common practice for the “hero leader.” In today’s column we’ll take a look at the myth of the hero leader…

So what do you do if you feel pinned after reading this? Thankfully, contributor Mike Myatt gives leaders like me some hope:

  1. Be Sincere. Forget about what’s in it for you, and think about how you can help the person you’re communicating with…
  2. Be Effective. Don’t ask questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no…
  3. Be Challenging. Use questions to stimulate and challenge. Ask questions that are insightful such that they require thought to be answered…
  4. Be Personal. Get personal in your questioning. Use questions that encourage the other person to reveal their thoughts and emotions…
  5. Be Competent. Demonstrate your competency without giving the answer away. Ask questions that reveal your subject matter expertise, and that demonstrate your ability to provide meaningful solutions without actually doing so…

Read the whole article here.