Effective leaders know the importance of nurturing environment where learning and mutual growth are encouraged. However, there’s still a trend where some leaders consciously or unconsciously avoid individuals who bring fresh insights, skills or even constructive challenges.
Why does this happen?
Here are a few possible reasons why some leaders hesitate to surround themselves with such people:
- Fear of being replaced – Many leaders feel a strong sense of ownership over their role and responsibilities. This sometimes leads to a fear of being replaced or overshadowed. Rather than seeing others as allies, they might see them as competition. In this case, the leader leads more from a position of power instead of empowering others.
- Looking for followers not collaborators – Leaders who prefer “soldiers” are more comfortable with individuals who agree with them, rather than those who question or offer alternative points of view. This approach can create an echo effect, where the team’s ideas remain unchallenged. Younger team members or those who bring fresh ideas may feel limited in their growth.
- Mirror effect – Some leaders may interpret working with people with fresh ideas as a threat to their image or status. This “weakness” is, actually, a great opportunity to learn and expand. The strongest leaders embrace self-awareness and understand that growth comes from acknowledging and addressing own weak points.
- Pressure to know everything – Leaders are often expected to have answers, solutions and direction. Admitting that they don’t know something or need help, can seem as they are vulnerable. But great leadership is not about knowing everything, it’s about creating a culture of mutual support. Leaders who surround themselves with people from whom they can learn, who challenge them and who bring new skills build stronger and more innovative teams. Of course, this approach requires humility, self-awareness and the willingness to sometimes step aside as the “expert” and allow others to lead.
