The 21 Laws of Leadership: How to Develop the Qualities of a Leader

Chapter 19 A Sense of Security: Uneasiness is something ability can never hide
Security
You cannot be a leader if you are dependent.

—John C. Maxwell

Someone will never be a great leader if they only think about their own success, or if they take all the credit for their success.

—Andrew Carnegie, industrialist
Steely security and willpower

During the G7 summit during the presidency of US President Ronald Reagan, leaders gathered at the White House to discuss economic policy.Reagan recalled an episode from the meeting.At the time, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau strongly condemned British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, claiming that Margaret Thatcher's policies would lose everything.Mrs. Thatcher stood in front of Trudeau with her head held high, listened to what he had to say, and then turned and left.

After this confrontation, Reagan went to Margaret Thatcher and said to her: "Maggie, it's outrageous that he can't talk to you like this. How can you bear him to you like this?"

Mrs. Thatcher looked at Reagan and replied: "Women must understand that sometimes men can play childish temper."

This story embodies the qualities of Mrs Thatcher.To be a successful world leader, she must have a strong heart and a strong sense of security.This is especially true for a female leader.

Mrs Thatcher had been swimming against the current all her life.She majored in chemistry at Oxford, a largely male-dominated field.She became the first woman president of the Conservative Party Association at Oxford University while she was still at school.A few years later, she became a tax lawyer.

In 1959, Margaret Thatcher entered politics.This field is also dominated by men, but she is still elected to the ranks of parliamentarians.Because of Margaret Thatcher's analytical skills, clarity of opinion and demeanor under pressure, she was often called upon by her party to participate in public policy debates.Her political skills and beliefs may have been influenced by her father, who once told her: "You don't have to follow blindly, you have to have your own opinions."

Her determination and ability won her several government positions.She was dubbed "Britain's least popular woman" during her tenure as Minister of Education and Technology.But Mrs Thatcher did not waver in the face of criticism, and she continued to work hard, eventually earning people's respect.She then became the first female prime minister in British history.

During her tenure as prime minister, Mrs Thatcher continued to face criticism.She has been reviled for her policy of privatizing state-owned enterprises, legislating to weaken the role of trade unions, sending troops to attack the Falkland Islands, and maintaining conservative policies towards the former Soviet Union.No matter how harshly she is criticized, she remains secure in her beliefs and self-esteem.She once said: "For me, the pursuit of the offensive is like abandoning beliefs, principles, values, and one's own policies, and pursuing what no one believes in...Which of the great careers in history is in the 'I Done under the tagline 'Stand by consensus'?"

Throughout her life, Mrs Thatcher had a firm belief in her ability to lead.Therefore, she was called the "Iron Lady" by the world, and the "Iron Lady" also won three consecutive general elections and served three consecutive terms as British Prime Minister.In modern British history, she is the only leader to accomplish such a feat.

what is a sense of security
Margaret Thatcher was steadfast in herself and what she believed in, so she led with a sense of self-security that is characteristic of all great leaders.

No one can live in a situation that is inconsistent with their self-evaluation, and this is not difficult to observe in the people around you.If someone sees himself as a failure, he will often find his own way to failure.Any time his accomplishments exceed his sense of security, he is bound to self-destruct.This is true not only for followers, but also for leaders.

Insecure leaders are often dangerous—to themselves, to their followers, and to their organizations.Because leaders tend to magnify their personal flaws in leadership positions.So no matter what negative baggage you have in your life, it will always become more overwhelming when it comes to leading others.

Insecure leaders often share the following characteristics.

1. They fail to provide security to others
There's an old saying, "You can't give someone else what you don't have." Just as a person who lacks skill cannot teach skill to others, a person who is insecure cannot make others feel safe.For a person to be an effective leader and make people want to follow him, he needs to make his followers feel safe.

2. Take more than give
Insecure people are constantly looking for validation, validation, and love from others.Because of this, they are always looking for security rather than giving it to others.They are takers rather than givers, and takers often don't make good leaders.

3. They have been suppressing good subordinates

An insecure leader is often unable to genuinely celebrate the success of his followers.He'll even stop them from winning, or take credit for the team's achievements.In the book "21 Laws of Leadership", there is a "law of authorization" that only leaders with a sense of security will authorize others.But insecure leaders tend to hide their power.In fact, the more outstanding his subordinates are, the more threatened he will feel, the more he will suppress the achievements of his subordinates, and the less he will affirm them.

4. They have been suppressing the potential of their organization

When followers are weakened and unaffirmed, they become discouraged and stop fulfilling their potential.If this step is reached, the entire organization will suffer.

Conversely, secure leaders are able to trust others because they believe in themselves.They are never arrogant; they know their strengths and weaknesses, and they have a greater sense of self-respect.They don't feel threatened when their subordinates perform well.They will try their best to find good talents and train their subordinates so that they can perform at their best.A secure leader rejoices when his team succeeds.He sees this as the highest affirmation of his leadership.

Self-reflection: Are you insecure?
How well do you know yourself and respect yourself?Do you know your strengths and are you happy with them?Do you admit your shortcomings and accept that some of them cannot be changed?When a person understands that he is born with a unique personality and talent, he can be more sure of the strengths and achievements of others.

How secure are you as a leader?When your subordinates have a good idea, will you support him or suppress him?Do you celebrate the accomplishments of your subordinates?When your team succeeds, do you attribute it to your team members?If the answer is no, then you may be dealing with a situation of insecurity that limits the development of yourself, your team, and your organization.

"Prescription" for increased security

Here are some things you can try to improve your sense of security.

1. Rediscover yourself

If you're the type of person who doesn't inherently know yourself, take some time to get to know yourself.Take a personality analysis test, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicat (MBTI) or the kind devised by Florence Littauer.Ask a few people who know you better and ask them to point out your three strengths and three weaknesses.Don't defend yourself when you hear their answers; gather the information and think about it.

2. Give credit to others
You may not understand that you will be more successful when you attribute the success of your team to others.But you might as well give it a try.If you can help your team members and acknowledge their contributions, it will benefit their careers, boost their morale, and drive the organization forward.It also makes you look like an effective leader.

3. Find foreign aid
If you can't overcome your insecurity on your own, seek professional help.Finding a good consultant and getting to the root of the problem will not only benefit you, but your team members as well.

don't hesitate
The great French writer and famous novelist Honoré de Balzac has a keen sense of human nature.In his masterpiece "la Comédie Humaine" (la Comédie Humaine), he tried to show the whole picture of modern civilization.He once wrote, "If you can't be comfortable with yourself, that's the biggest obstacle to a good relationship with anyone." Don't let your insecurities hold you back from reaching your full potential!
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