Are You a Perfect Leader? No One Is Perfect

Have you ever thought that your leaders were supposed to be perfect? Have you ever had a perfect leader? Do you think you need to be perfect in order to be a leader? People put too much pressure on their leaders, and some leaders put too much pressure on themselves. Nobody is perfect. If they think they are, they are being prideful. The key to being a good leader is knowing your strengths and weaknesses and surrounding yourself with people who excel in areas you do not. This will compliment and complete your leadership ability. John Maxwell says, “When you think you can do it all, you will try to do it all, and you will lead your people incompletely.” (“The Incomplete Leader pt1.” The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast)

Trying to be Perfect Doesn’t Work

I have heard leaders say that they can’t show any weakness to their team. This is a flawed thought process. Unfortunately, their team already knows they have weaknesses. If we portray ourselves as perfect, our team knows that we are not being transparent. A lack of transparency actually makes them trust us less. This makes them wonder if there is anything else we are hiding from them.

Trying to portray perfection in all areas, causes a leader to lead poorly. When we try to be someone we are not, or pretend to be strong in areas we are weak, our team can tell that we are not being authentic. They may not be able to put their finger on it, but they know that something is not right. Sometimes, being someone we are not can even come off as being domineering, abrasive, or prideful. When we are “above” our team, we are not able to develop relational leadership. It often causes division instead of unity. (see Unity, A Powerful Force: Why Unity Is Important for more on why that’s so important) 

I had a leader who was great in a one-on-one setting. He was terrific at being a relational leader, who was encouraging and motivating to his team. However, when he got into a group setting, he would often try to take on an authoritarian role. When he would try to be overly direct, he was putting on a facade, and would come across as domineering and demotivating. 

Acknowledge our Weaknesses

If we acknowledge our weaknesses, it actually gives our team more confidence in us. They then can see that we are self aware and that we are not trying to be perfect. This enables them to trust us more. It also allows them to relate with us and see that they can be better, too. When they see that they can be better, they will try to be better and the team will grow. 

When I approached a leader with a question, it gave me more confidence in him as a leader when he would tell me that’s a great question for a different leader on the team, who was more gifted in that area. Because he was willing to refer me to someone with more expertise, I would trust going to him with more questions. This encouraged me to learn more and continue to grow.

On the other hand, I had experience with a leader who tried to lead a person on his team on spiritual matters. The challenge was this leader was a leader of a secular organization and the person on his team had been to seminary. The leader hadn’t developed enough credibility with this person to lead in that area, and the person did not really ask for advice in any area going forward. This stalled the growth of the entire team.

We need to understand who we are leading and what areas we have leadership with that person. We often don’t have credibility in every area of someone’s personal, spiritual, and business life. This is why the bible tells us there is strength in a multitude of counselors. (Prov 11:14)

Be Secure in Your Strengths and Trust Others

Being secure enough in yourself allows others to operate in their strengths. This builds confidence and unity in the team. Instead of trying to be the be-all-end-all to everyone, allow your team to work with the leadership team members who compliment each others’ strengths.

God created every person to have different strengths. When we can learn to grow them and put all our strengths together, we can become quite an unstoppable force. However, when one person starts believing their strength is more important to the team, the team starts to fall apart.

Now there are many parts, yet one body. So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary….Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.

1 Cor 12:20-22, 24-25 (HBCS)

Our goals should always involve capitalizing on our strengths and minimizing our weaknesses. Too many people try to become great in every area, when that’s not typically a possibility. When we analyze what we are good at, we can continue to grow in that area. Eventually, we may become great in it. If we are terrible in an area, and focus at getting better in it, typically we never get better than average in that particular area. If we want to be great, we need to focus on improving our strengths, not only our weaknesses.

Don’t Idolize Leaders, Either

On the flip side of this all, if you think your leader is perfect, you are likely idolizing that person. (For more of my story on how many things have been idols in my life, please read “Overcoming Idols in Life – A Difficult Journey”) It becomes dangerous ground when we idolize our leaders. Unfortunately, I have fallen into that trap a couple times. I specifically remember when I realized that each of them were normal people who were working on their own strengths and weaknesses. 

If we don’t realize that our leaders are people with both strengths and weaknesses, we make them a god in our life. When we do this, we allow them to be an idol, and we will have a hard time when we see a weakness in them. 

This also adds pressure on them, whether it is realized or not. This pressure disrupts the unity within the organization. We are relational beings, and when they are on a pedestal as an idol, we cannot have relationship with them. 

Additionally, if we continue to idolize them, God may remove us from that situation. This is because we are only supposed to worship Him, and not any mortal leaders. God is good at removing us from situations where we are not in right alignment. Unfortunately, we often don’t know that he is trying to protect us, and get upset that things are not going our way.

We All Need People to Fill Our Gaps

As I’ve mentioned before, I am typically the type-A, go-getter. I am focused and always have many things on my to-do list. My husband is a more relaxed, peaceful person who trusts that things will get done as they need to. He often helps me relax, calm down, and remember that it’s nice to stay home sometimes. I also have a very good friend who is great at relating to people and drawing out their strengths. She is patient and relaxed. In many conversations, she gives me great insight into who I am and how I relate with others. It’s funny because she is very much like my husband, and her husband is like me. My husband and this friend are great examples of people who fill my gaps and help me to become better.

Please share below what some of your strengths are, and what areas you’ve needed to rely on other people to fill the gaps. If you feel this message was beneficial, please share it, and sign up for the email list so you get notified when new articles post.