Dr. Earl R. Smith II

by Dr. Earl R. Smith II

You might think that self-interest would be the principal drive in the efforts directed towards self-improvement. This should seem particularly self-evident when the individual under consideration is a senior executive who has regular contact with the very senior levels of the company - the board of directors - the advisory board - decision makers within the company’s client base. But often nothing is further from the case. There are some forms of leadership - leadership styles - that seem to tend towards these behaviors. Something in the history of these individuals and in their leadership development that occasionally overrides self-interest and the interests of the company in favor of gratuitous damage to both. In my efforts at coaching these people, I have come to see that the underlying causes reside more in the realm of spirituality than reason and the life coaching rather than executive coaching is most often called for.

Self-sabotaging behaviors are among the most difficult of habits to break. There is one self-sabotaging behavior that seems to stand out as particularly seductive and difficult to avoid - particularly among the more successful in the business community. That behavior is hubris. Hubris shows it’s ugly face in a variety of forms - here is just one:

A fellow I met was explaining to me that he was always late because it kept the people who were waiting for him in their place – and besides, his time was far more valuable than theirs – and he was, after all, worth it. I asked him if he thought that he was insulting those people and he replied “not at all – the little people are lucky to meet with me at all – besides, even if I am, so what?”

When I asked a number of people about how they respond to this type of treatment, I got a very interesting range of direct and passionate answers. Here area a few:

“After cordially greeting him, thanking him for his presence, and offering him visible seating, I’d tell him, in an intentionally LOUD voice, “You’re LATE!” If that doesn’t get through to him, nothing ever will. No one is irreplaceable and arrogance abounds.”

“Realize that this guy pays for his hubris with a premium on any deals he does. There is no getting around the asshole tax. Trust me - anyone who does in fact deal with this guy, or anyone who works for him, probably demands a premium for the effort. Just like companies that treat their people poorly often pay through the nose in salary, turnover costs, or poor customer service because of lack of an engaged workforce, individuals who do this to their people hurt their companies. Not being an asshole is a source of competitive advantage”

“I truly believe that what goes around comes around. Good working relationships are constructive, productive, and robust, and are shaped by respectful and trust worthy which also lead to loyalty. This fellow has none of these with anyone he practices this with. Abandonment is really his biggest problem. Sadly, in his world, he’ll see it as everyone else’s loss.”

Over the years I have collected hundreds of comments much like those above and I continue to wonder why people gratuitously sabotage their own interests in this manner.

Dr. Smith is a proven senior executive, successful entrepreneur, published author and public speaker. He serves on boards of directors and advisory boards or as a strategic advisor to CEOs. Dr. Smith specializes in leadership development and advising management on leadership styles which make them more effective leaders. He also works as an executive and/or life coach in the areas of personal growth and spirituality.

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