One of the quickest ways to sniff out an insecure leader is to watch how they handle disagreement. The moment someone questions their opinion, the conversation begins changing direction. Instead of searching for the best solution, the discussion becomes centered on proving who is right. People’s voices get louder, each side digs their heels in, and winning the argument replaces solving the problem. By the end of the meeting, someone may have won the argument, but the organization usually walks away with a weaker decision because too much energy was spent defending positions instead of pursuing the mission.

Leadership has never been about proving you are the smartest person in the room. In my experience, it’s always been about helping the team arrive at the smartest decision. Those are two very different objectives. One comes from our egos, while the other is driven by purpose. Leaders who understand that difference spend far less time convincing people they are right and far more time helping everyone understand what gives the organization the greatest opportunity to succeed.