Six ‘fatal’ character flaws of lying leaders
This is the third in a three-part series focusing on the seductive power of lying and how dangerous this practice can be, when it is adopted by those in leadership. The first blog focused on the ‘seven subtle strategies of lying leaders’ and second addressed the ‘six reasons why people gravitate towards lying leaders’.
By identifying the character flaws of lying leaders, the aim of this blog is firstly, to raise awareness and secondly to provide information that can be used to mitigate harms. Think about it this way, the time to know when someone in your home has pyromaniac tendencies is not when the house is engulfed in flames. It is likely that long before the situation reaches that point, there would have been subtle signs of risk as well as opportunities to prevent escalation. So it is with lying leaders.
Left unchecked, these individuals habituate themselves in the practice of lying to such an extent, that ascension into leadership only serves to amplify what was already there.
With the context framed, set out below is my take on the ‘six ‘fatal’ character flaws of lying leaders’.
1. The inflation reflex
Lying leaders are inconvenienced by the simple and mundane. As such, they tend to overstate and exaggerate their capabilities, competencies and connections. Initially it starts with embellishment of facts, but over time as access to power and influence increases, the propensity to inflate out of all proportion, graduates to provable falsehoods with no basis in fact whatsoever. The point to note about this trait is that it is a feature of the lying leader’s character and not a bug. To that extent, these individuals require no incentive to engage in this behaviour. It is what it is.
2. The deflation impulse
The deflation impulse is observable when lying leaders are presented with any information that is not overwhelmingly positive. Even when faced with evidence suggesting that all is not well, they will minimise and even trivialise the situational assessment. The reason why they do this isn’t to avoid needless escalation, but rather to insulate themselves from any narrative that does not accord with their detached world view. The obvious danger of the deflation impulse is that, just like ignoring the risk of children playing with matches, it can lead to catastrophic downstream consequences.
3. Ownership complex
To some degree everyone grows up with a sense of entitlement. Whilst this starts in familiar settings amongst family and friends, it can be amplified exponentially in the workplace, where hierarchical structures codify lines of accountability and assign powers. This is where things can get completely of control because, in the mind of a lying leader, power and position are not assigned to them as a custodian, rather they are to be taken ownership of as a possession. This is why they so easily and quickly find themselves abusing their positions, because from their warped and narrow-minded perspective, they are entitled to do so.
4. Means and end mentality
From the perspective of a lying leader, self-justification is a survival skill. For these individuals, the service of self is the end and to this end, the means is always justified no matter the havoc wrought in its wake. This is perhaps one of the most terrifying aspects of a lying leader’s behaviour because, there is almost nothing that they will not excuse or justify if they stand to profit from the outcome. Their position is always to view the will of others as wholly subservient to their personal ambition. Therefore, whatever it may cost you to serve them is a reasonable price.
5. Oxygen of approval
Whilst I do not know of anyone who does not like approval, it can be addictive and just like any other addiction, harm is likely to result. Ultimately, if you only live for approval, then you will eventually die from rejection. This is because criticism, when it is measured and appropriate [even though it may be harsh] plays a crucial role in developing leadership character, moderating behaviour, building discipline and strengthening resilience. Not so for lying leaders. From their vantage point, approval is all that matters, and they do not just expect it, they demand it.
6. Excessive irrationality
Irrational behaviour is not uncommon. However, in the case of lying leaders, the tendency towards irrationality feeds a fundamental need to be right about everything, even when they are obviously wrong. As part of this juvenile game of point scoring, nothing is off limits. Baseless assertions, frivolous allegations and inconsequential arguments are all par for the course. For lying leaders, it is not enough for them to think they are right, they need you to know that they are right and accept that you are wrong. Why? Just so that they can claim a valueless ‘victory’.
Suffice to say that this combustible mix of personality flaws invariably detonates in a conflagration of catastrophe for the lying leader and those in their immediate orbit. I have observed it first-hand, and it is not pretty. Of all the ‘fatal’ character flaws highlighted in this blog it is the complete lack of an ‘off switch’ that ultimately proves most costly. The ‘off switch’ keeps us safe from ourselves and others. Sadly, that is not the case for lying leaders. Not only are they disinclined to establish boundaries for themselves, but they are even less inclined to respect those enforced by others.
