Reflecting on many of the most interesting people in my lifetime is cause for reflection and commentary on a few consistent ideas. One of those consistencies is the relevance of self-confidence and pride that seems to be either a precondition, or result, of success in family, community and business activities. You could spend a lot of time philosophizing on which came first, the accomplishment or the self-confidence; actually, a lot of people have spent a lot of time on those reflections. At times, it seems, people who have good reason to have pride in what they have accomplished create an aura of resentment among onlookers who witness their success. That resentment is especially interesting when it comes from those who precede or succeed the person who accomplishes great things.
Leaders miss the important point when they act to diminish their predecessors’ success to make their own efforts more acceptable or impressive. Your success is based on the foundation established by those who went before. A clear indication of this comes into view when leaders start with the purpose and goal of doing things differently, for no other reason than doing things differently; oblivious to the idea that most great inventions and accomplishments evolve through evolution from preceding ideas.
Leaders who view those who follow them as competitors and attempt to diminish their accomplishments in an effort to make own successes more acceptable or impressive ignore the basis of the word succeed is success. As a great leader the success of those who succeed you is both your responsibility and legacy. True leaders revel in the success of those who follow them.
The word hubris comes into play when a leader loses contact with reality and overestimates their own competence, accomplishments or capabilities. There is a fine line between self-confidence and arrogance. Failing to realize that reality is harmful to both the delusional leader and the organization they lead. This is especially true in an organization like Rotary where we turnover our leadership annually.