The Deadly Sins of Leadership By Mark Wager

The Deadly Sins of Leadership

By Mark Wager

In my thirty years as a Manager, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing every leadership scenario you can imagine. From extraordinary triumphs to devastating failures, every moment has shaped me into the leader and Leadership Coach I am today. As I reflect on the moments when I fell short, I realise that my failures were rarely due to a lack of technical skills or leadership theory—they stemmed from a failure within myself. It’s not always about what you know; it’s about who you are.

Now, as a Leadership Coach, I help organisations select and develop their leaders. While I teach practical tools and techniques to address performance issues and understand the psychology of human behaviour, I’ve learned that the personal qualities of a leader—qualities like values, integrity, and humility—are far more difficult to teach. These are qualities that develop over a lifetime, and they are what ultimately determine whether a leader succeeds or fails.

The truth is, if you possess strong personal values, you are already 80% of the way to becoming a great leader. Skills can be developed, but character is the foundation. Conversely, without strong values, the road to becoming a quality leader is fraught with difficulty. Over the years, I’ve seen many leaders fail, not because they lacked the necessary skills, but because they fell victim to what I call the deadly sins of leadership—failings that stem from personal flaws, not professional shortcomings.

Pride

Pride can be both a leader’s greatest strength and their downfall. On the one hand, self-belief is critical in leadership; without it, you’ll never inspire others to follow you. But pride becomes dangerous when it starts to blind you to the perspectives and wisdom of others. A great leader is one who can balance pride with humility. Humility is what keeps your ego in check, allowing you to listen to others and make decisions that benefit the team, rather than your own sense of self-worth.

When pride takes over, you stop listening, stop learning, and start believing you are always right. That’s when mistakes are made. Remember, leadership is not about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about empowering others to share their intelligence and contribute to a shared goal.

Anger

Anger is a powerful emotion, and when used correctly, it can motivate change and highlight areas that need improvement. But when anger controls you, it becomes destructive. I’ve seen leaders lose their temper in ways that destroy relationships and reputations that took years to build. In moments of anger, you operate from a state that is unfamiliar, a place where your decision-making and communication skills are compromised.

A leader with high emotional intelligence recognises anger as a signal but does not allow it to dictate their actions. They take a step back, assess the situation, and respond with clarity and calm. Anger should never be the driver of your decisions. Leaders must learn to master their emotions, rather than letting their emotions master them.

Indecision

A good leader knows the value of collaboration, but leadership is ultimately about decision-making. There will be times when you need to act quickly, without the luxury of consulting with others, and there will be moments when you must make a decision that is unpopular. Indecision can be just as harmful as making the wrong decision.

Every moment of hesitation chips away at your team’s confidence in your leadership. The more uncertain you appear, the more they will question your ability to guide them. Great leaders aren’t always the ones who make perfect decisions, but they are the ones who make decisions when they need to be made—and stand by them.

Cowardice

This is a harsh word, but it’s one that needs to be addressed. No leader wants to be labelled a coward, yet this sin is more common than we’d like to admit. Cowardice in leadership shows up in subtle ways—in avoiding difficult conversations, in passing blame onto others, and in refusing to take responsibility when things go wrong.

A courageous leader is one who faces challenges head-on. They don’t shy away from tough decisions or uncomfortable conversations. They understand that leadership is not about being liked all the time; it’s about doing what is right, even when it’s difficult. Courageous leaders take ownership of their team’s failures as well as their successes. Without courage, a leader will never earn the respect of their team.

Dishonesty

Trust is the foundation of every successful team. Without trust, a team cannot function, and without honesty, there can be no trust. As a leader, your word is everything. When you say you will do something, no matter how small, you must follow through. Broken promises—no matter how trivial—erode trust over time, and once trust is lost, it’s incredibly difficult to rebuild.

Great leaders build trust by being transparent and consistent. They communicate openly, admit when they’ve made mistakes, and always act with integrity. Dishonesty—whether it’s telling a lie or failing to keep your word—destroys the very foundation on which leadership is built.

A Call to Action

Leadership is not just about mastering strategies, techniques, or theories. It starts within. If you want to be a great leader, you need to focus on becoming a good person—a person with strong values, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. Avoid the deadly sins of leadership by continually reflecting on who you are and how you lead. Leadership is not a destination; it’s a journey of growth and self-discovery.

If you are ready to take your leadership to the next level, I encourage you to reflect on your own personal qualities. Where are you falling short? Where can you improve? Great leadership begins with self-awareness and a commitment to growth. The technical aspects of leadership can be learned, but only when they are built on a solid foundation of character.

Take the first step today. Become the leader you are meant to be—not just in skills, but in spirit. Your team, your organisation, and ultimately, the world, will be better for it.

Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Whether you’re looking to overcome self-doubt, empower your team, or refine your leadership strategy, I’m here to help. Contact me today to discuss how personalised coaching can unlock your potential and transform your leadership journey.