Those who are secure within can give others stability.
Security is one foundation of leadership: the inner security of the leader and the stability they give others. When people feel insecure for long, they often drift away bit by bit. Where stability is missing, followership crumbles.
The quality in detail
Four steps through the quality: understand, check, connect, apply. Open any topic to read more.
The core messageWhat the quality means – and what it doesn’t
Inner security enables you to give others stability. And people are more likely to follow you when they feel safe with you.
- It does not mean
- That you should take everything off people’s shoulders or keep risks quiet. Security comes from reliability and honesty, not from sugarcoating.
- That inner security means having no doubts. You are secure when you can bear doubt, criticism and the success of others without feeling threatened.
- Strictly speaking
- The statement combines two readings: the leader’s inner security and the security leadership gives to those who follow. Both are supported, but separately: insecure leaders are more likely to reject suggestions, and psychological safety in a team fosters learning and performance.
- Giving stability does not mean promising simple security. In uncertain times people also follow authoritarian leaders who do exactly that – promising security does not yet make leadership good.
- Applies to
- Every group that relies on you: your team during a restructuring, a church in a crisis, a club after relegation and children who need stability in turbulent times.
The explanationWhen funding, popularity, or morale falter, a team, a church or a club is in danger of crumbling.
When funding, popularity, or morale falter, a team, a church or a club is in danger of crumbling.
Growing insecurity can even drive people to undermine their leadership – or to follow whoever promises simple security.
As a rule of thumb: “You can’t give what you don’t have.” Leaders who are insecure inside find it hard to give others security, and they are more likely to fend off suggestions.
The signs3 signs the quality is present · 3 that it is missing
- You are glad when someone you work with gets more recognition than you.
- The people you work with raise mistakes and concerns with you openly, without fearing negative consequences.
- In turbulent times, you say clearly what you know and what you don’t, you stay reachable, and you make sure information doesn’t get stuck at one level.
- You react hurt or defensively to criticism and suggestions for improvement.
- You keep capable people small because you experience their success as a threat.
- Rumors spread because people don’t know where they stand with you.
The research7 sources: 3 theories, 2 primary studies, 2 meta-analyses · 1999–2017 · with the limits of the research
- low
- moderate
- high
Moderate – Two readings: the leader’s inner security (as in John C. Maxwell) and the security leadership gives followers (as in the core statement).
- 1999Amy C. Edmondson
Team psychological safety fosters learning behavior and performance.
- 2001Michael A. Hogg
Groups follow those who best embody the group.
- 2003Micha Popper & Ofra Mayseless
Leaders as a secure base, analogous to attachment figures in attachment theory.
- 2013Michael A. Hogg & Janice Adelman
Uncertainty strengthens the turn toward clearly defined groups and strong leaders.
- 2014Nathanael J. Fast, Ethan R. Burris & Caroline A. Bartel
Insecure leaders fend off suggestions.
Both readings are supported, but separately. “Exchanging” followership for security is an interpretive model; it also holds for authoritarian leadership in uncertain times.
The originJohn C. Maxwell · “Security”
- 1999OriginJohn C. Maxwell
The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, Quality 17
- SecurityIn essence: Only those who are inwardly secure can give others security and lead well.
- todayWEGVISOR: Security
The WEGVISOR version, “Security”, takes up Maxwell’s idea in the core statement “Those who are secure within can give others stability” and so connects the leader’s inner security with stability for those who follow. Both readings are supported by research, but should be considered separately.
The related qualities and lawsL12 Empowerment · L18 Sacrifice · L21 Legacy · Q15 Relationships
Only if you are inwardly secure can you give power away. Insecure leaders experience strong team members as a threat rather than a gain.
Inner security makes sacrifice possible. If you don’t draw your self-worth from privileges, you can let go of them more easily.
Only secure leaders prepare genuine successors. If you feel threatened, you prevent anyone from taking your place.
Security grows in relationships. When people sense that you care, they feel safe with you – and follow you.
The action points5 stages of growth – from first awareness to passing it on
- Become aware This week, observe in which situation you yourself become insecure inside, and note how the person opposite you might be able to tell.
- Lay the foundations This week, make one small commitment with a fixed deadline and keep it exactly. If it gets tight, speak up before the deadline, not after it.
- Make it a habit Every Monday, tell the people who depend on your work in a few sentences what is certain, what is open and when they will know more, and keep to that date even when things get stressful.
- Deepen deliberately In the next uncertain situation, talk early with those affected, including about what you don’t know yet, and afterwards ask someone you trust how predictable you seemed.
- Pass it on In your area of responsibility – a project, a team or an organization – ensure clear responsibilities, reliable routines and open information so others have stability even without you, and coach others in giving stability themselves.
The reflection questions5 questions for you or a conversation with others
- Whose success do I find it hard to acknowledge honestly – and why?
- Do the people I work with or lead feel safe enough to disagree with me?
- Where do I draw my worth from: my role or something deeper?
- How do I react when someone publicly questions my decision?
- In uncertain times, do I give real direction or just reassurance?
Take your time with one question. Write down your answer – or talk it over with someone you trust.
The picture to rememberBlows from outside make everything wobble. The center holds, and everything returns.
- Blows from outside make everything wobble.
- The center holds, and everything returns.
What security looks like in practice
Same house since 1958
While the dot-com bubble, the financial crisis and the COVID-19 crisis sent others into panic, Warren Buffett stayed calm and decided rationally. Despite a fortune of over $120 billion, he lives in the house he bought in 1958.
The friend who carried Frodo up the mountain
The heavier the Ring weighs on Frodo, the more firmly Sam stands by him – even when Gollum betrays them and Frodo doubts him. In the end, Sam carries his exhausted friend up Mount Doom.
“We will stand on principle or not at all”
In 1979 Margaret Thatcher took over a Britain struggling with high inflation and unemployment. Despite mass protests and criticism from her own party, she held to her reform course for eleven years – controversial, but consistent.
