The sign of a great leader is not that they are the most gifted or competent person in the organization. The sign of a great leader is someone who can attract and keep people more gifted and competent than themselves.

So…let’s just be honest. I’m a little insecure. My guess is you might be too.

Most leaders I know struggle with some level of insecurity. How would you know whether insecurity occupies some real estate in your life?

Because self-awareness is a major step toward personal change, here are five signs you might be battling insecurity as a leader:

#1 You are constantly comparing yourself to others.

We have lots to learn from other people, but insecure people aren’t driven so much by a desire to learn as they are to know whether they are better or worse than others.

There is a world of difference between tracking with someone to grow and learn, and tracking other people or organizations to see how you stack up.

One is healthy, the other destructive. As Andy Stanley says, there is no win in comparison.

#2 Your sense of self-worth is driven by your latest results.

Your opinion of yourself rises and falls with your attendance, blog stats, comment thread, reviews and what others say about you.

I do monitor most of those things, but I’ve had to learn not to obsess over them. God’s opinion of me doesn’t change with people’s opinion of me.

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