Saturday June 9, 2018
By DAN ROCKWELL You might be arrogant if you: editor@leaderonomics.com
Arrogance. It’s such an ugly word. Sadly, the ones who are arrogant may not know that they are.
Want to do a self-check?
1. Look down your nose on those you serve. Arrogance views others as burdens and irritations.
2. Beat yourself up over little mistakes. Arrogance can’t learn from failure, because failure is not an option for pomposity.
3. Feel anger as a first response to human frailty.
4. Secretly manipulate, rather than openly influence. Arrogance has a personal agenda. Influence seeks the highest good of organisations and individuals.
5. Help from a high tower of superiority. You’re arrogant if giving help puffs you up, but receiving help is out of the question.
6. Cheat to win. Saving face makes integrity a convenience, not a necessity.
7. Consider people as objects to be used for personal gain.
8. Reject the idea of dependence and interdependence and choose to stand aloof.
9. Criticise first and ask questions never.
10. Respond with ungratefulness. Entitlement robs arrogance of gratitude.
11. Put receiving value before giving value.
12. View leadership as an entitlement, not as an opportunity to serve.
13. ‘Get it’ and others don’t. Arrogance is always ‘right’.
14. Push back with explanations, justifications, and excuses when receiving tough feedback. If you want to see a person’s true character, give them tough feedback.
15. Never seek feedback. Giving feedback is the only option for arrogance.
16. Your world is best explained with ‘I, me, and mine’.
The cure
The idea that you can overcome arrogance is an expression of, well... arrogance.
Don’t try to overcome arrogance. You can’t stop that puffy feeling in your chest when respected leaders respect you. It just happens.
The practice of humility is the only cure for arrogance.
In my 20s, an elderly gentleman complimented me on my choice of clothing. I gave him a short lesson on style. I’m embarrassed by that today.
Humility says thank you.
Arrogance gives a lesson.
Notice your arrogance and respond with humility.
How might leaders overcome arrogance?
- Dan Rockwell is a coach and speaker and is freakishly interested in leadership. He is an author of a world-renowned leadership blog, Leadership Freak. To get in touch with Dan, write to us at editor@leaderonomics.com.
This article is available at www.leaderonomics.com, where you can download the PDF version.
