SIGNS OF A JEALOUS LEADER

Great leaders are known for their generosity with praise, appreciation and support of other's successes. They are genuinely interested in seeing their colleagues and their subordinates overcome obstacles and achieve great things. Poor leaders, however, are known for being hyper-critical, envious and jealous of others who are popular, talented and successful. Which one are you? The following are several signs that jealousy could be an issue you need to overcome.
 
If you can’t be happy for someone else’s success.
When you find it hard to celebrate a colleague’s success, this could be a sign of jealousy. It could be that you are resentful they achieved a particular status that you have been unable to achieve, or that they attained it sooner than you did. You may resent them because you feel that your tenure, education, talent or hard work makes you more deserving or entitled than they are.

If you personalize another’s success as proof of your failure.
Jealousy hurts. It causes you to compare yourself to another who is successful and makes you feel inferior to them. As a result, you tend to internalize a perception that what they have achieved is proof of your deficiency. Essentially, their success makes you feel shame and the only way you can feel better about yourself is by tearing them down or seeing them fail. 

If you  secretly hope for others to fail.
Because someone else’s success makes you feel inferior, you need them to fail to vindicate yourself. Secretly, the jealous leader hopes for others to make mistakes, stumble or even fall. It is a twisted attempt to boost one’s own self-esteem and indicates a corrupt motive for leadership. Leadership should never be about serving one’s own need, it should always be about promoting others and celebrating their successes. 

If you are vindictive and prone to gossip.
Jealous people love gossip. It makes them feel better to tear others down and expose their faults—especially if that person is successful or in some way perceived as superior. If you are quick to listen to, or repeat gossip, if you love to hear criticisms, or often become critical of others who succeed, it is likely you have a jealous, bitter root that is bearing bad, toxic fruit. 

If you resent another's popularity.
A jealous leader wants to be the center of attention and is angered by sharing the spotlight. Jealous leaders are insecure and thrive on affirmation. They fear losing their popularity and are threatened by the gifted and talented among them, who they perceive may steal their affirmation. As a result, they jealously hold others down, belittle their contributions, criticize their efforts and generally try to diminish their value any chance they get. 

If you are possessive of information and resources that others need to succeed.
Jealousy is often demonstrated by a leader who acts vindictively—even toward team members and subordinates. Jealousy causes sins of omission as much as sins of commission. They withhold pertinent information, they prevent training opportunities and promotions, and they limit resources that can cause others to move forward and succeed. 

Don't be a jealous leader. Jealousy is a cancer that eats away at the leader's integrity, reputation and effectiveness. Be the type of leader that rises above envy to celebrate those around you. Become known as one who cheers others on and roots for their success. Do that, and you'll be a leader who adds value, is known as kingdom minded, and respected as a servant leader who empowers and pushes others forward.