We all have strengths, but often it is those very strengths that can, on occasions, become over-exaggerated to become our biggest weaknesses. These are our derailers. Check out how to spot your derailers and see if any of the ones mentioned here are tripping you up.

1. Leadership
Derailers

2. What do we mean by a Derailer?
Something that throws you off track……
Behaviours that are triggered under
certain conditions and limit or
undermine your effectiveness

3. And why do they happen?
Typically when you are under stress, during
times of change, or when under pressure
from deadlines
Nothing to be over-concerned about.
Everyone has them.
Once you recognise what yours are, you are
then in a position to control them and be a
more effective leader.

4. One person’s strength…..!!!
Some of our biggest strengths
can sometimes get out of
control and become our biggest
problem….

5. • When does being too careful lead to you being
overly cautious?

6. • When does being too careful lead to you being
overly cautious?
• Being bold, when taken too far, becomes
arrogance.

7. • When does being too careful lead to you being
overly cautious?
• Being bold, when taken too far, becomes
arrogance.
• Being conscientious is great, but when it creeps
into being perfectionist it can be a problem.

8. • When does being too careful lead to you being
overly cautious?
• Being bold, when taken too far, becomes
arrogance.
• Being conscientious is great, but when it creeps
into being perfectionist it can be a problem.
• Most would say that healthy scepticism is a good
thing, but what if it leads to you being distrustful?

9. Careful or Overly- Cautious
Being careful is good for avoiding rash
decisions, but being overly cautious has a
number of ‘derailing’ features…..
• Risk Aversion
• Slow to make decisions
• Over-analysing issues
• Motivated not to fail, rather than to succeed
• Unwilling to take the lead
• Being distracted by unnecessary tasks

10. Bold or Arrogant
Being bold has good qualities, for
example, fighting for what you believe in, but
when it becomes arrogance we see….
• Self-centredness
• Taking credit for others’ work
• Never giving up a fight
• Overestimating own talents
• Not admitting to mistakes
• Resisting feedback

11. Conscientious or Perfectionist
Being conscientious helps you focus on details that
others might miss, but when it swings too far you
may fail to see the bigger picture , leading to……
• Inflexibility about rules
• Tendency to micro-manage
• Setting unreasonably high standards
• Resistance to change
• Being over-precise about details
• A high need for control

12. Scepticism or Distrust
Healthy scepticism helps you assess downsides before
jumping into decision, however when you slip into distrust
you focus only on the negatives and become reluctant to
make any decisions…..
• Always looking for the flaws
• Suspicious of other’s intentions
• Constantly questioning new ideas
• Failure to inspire others or trust others
• Defensive
• Habitually sceptical and argumentative
• Never taking actions because there is always a downside

13. And there are more…..
These are just a small sample of potential
leadership derailers……
We haven’t started on…..
Responsiveness, Questioning, Creative, Expressive, I
maginative, or Dutiful
and of course their evil twin brothers …..
Volatile, Passive-
resistant, Mischievous, Melodramatic, Eccentric, or
Pleaser

14. Which ones are yours?
We all have these vulnerabilities to greater or lesser
degrees
What impact do they have on your team?
On your colleagues?
On your Organisation?
On YOU?
How do you know they are in the room?
How do you react to them?

15. • Thank you for viewing
• If you want to find out some more about your leadership
style and your derailers then please get in touch
• I have extensive experience in leadership coaching and
teaching coaching techniques
• You are welcome to use any material in the slides
(I would appreciate you attributing the source however)
Contact Gyro Consulting Services
Email gyrocoaching@gmail.com
Web gyroconsulting.com