Superstars And The 'Super-scars' They Create

We have a superstar-driven culture of influencers and leaders right now. The results are evident to most, except those with a superstar-driven mentality. I don't want to imply that just because some leaders have name recognition, status, wealth, or have become popular, they are not quality people or leaders. Many of my friends inside and outside the church are superstars in their areas of expertise, but don’t generally exhibit the traits of a superstar-driven leader or influencer.

Leaders and influencers can be prominent in a small company or context but exhibit superstar-driven attitudes and behaviors. Hubris is hubris, whatever the size. Today's thoughts are for our benefit. This article is like a lighthouse to a ship sailing on at night, saying, “Beware, you're getting ready to run aground, with much damage to your boat and everyone on your ship, including you.” Remember, those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end. I don't want that to happen to us, so let’s glean some wisdom from the tendencies of those affected by a superstar-driven way of viewing life. 

In 2015, author Joseph Mattera wrote an article about superstar-driven personalities. I've added to his thoughts all through this article. Here are nine general traits of a superstar-driven way of extreme thinking and living. As you go through these traits, note that not every superstar-driven leader will have all nine traits. Remember also that there are times when a leader will appear to have these traits but don’t consistently exhibit them. When you read this, please think of yourself first and others second.      

1. Superstar-driven leaders have a sense of entitlement. Some folks think more highly of themselves than they should think, and believe in their hearts that they deserve better treatment than any other human being. They manipulate, stroke, and pander to their subordinates, but it is about the leader. 

2. Superstar-driven leaders think they are above the law. When a celebrity leader gets used to having followers around them, they get used to getting what they want when they want. Hence, they push aside boundaries and live a life that satisfies their inclinations. If they don’t like the values and codes of their context, they don’t enforce them. 

3. Superstar-driven leaders are unaccountable. Some leaders think that, since they are so successful, they have reached a point where no one can speak into their lives or teach them anything. If someone attempts to speak into their lives, they ask questions like these in their minds: Is this person as wealthy and successful as me? What school have they been to? What qualifies them to speak to me?

4. Superstar-driven leaders don’t trust anyone. Many superstar-driven leaders project a false self of confidence and aloofness. They don’t trust anyone enough to have intimate relationships, including with their spouses and children. While they talk about “us,” they live separately, viewing others as incapable of understanding them. 

5. The superstar-driven leader's self-identity gets lost in their public identity. Some start okay, but eventually, their success, fueled by their ambition to be respected and known, becomes how they view themselves. Thus, they lose their essence and live through a false sense of success and power. 

6. Superstar-driven leaders become narcissistic to medicate the pain of their present or past.

Many superstar leaders abuse their leadership privileges by manipulating others for their advantage. Or they eventually get involved in substance abuse, adultery, excessive entertainment, frequent vacations, and other lusts to medicate the pain. These behaviors come from significant responsibilities, intense lifestyles, and other pressure-cooker items that make them feel trapped with no outlet. Thus, they succumb to temporary fixes that give them a reprieve from their miserable reality.                                      

7. Superstar-driven leaders erroneously equate success with favor and entitlement. Some believe that because they are celebrities, they are chosen ones. Therefore, they can't be wrong or judged. What they do becomes who they are. They speak at people, not to people.                                                

8. Superstar-driven leaders associate with other superstar leaders who reinforce this superstar culture. The old saying “birds of a feather flock together” is a truism; people tend to congregate mostly with others who believe like them and reinforce their belief systems and lifestyles. The same is true of leaders. Thus, they close themselves up to other realities and solutions. They become a bubble of trouble for those they serve. 

9. Those closest to superstar-driven leaders don’t challenge them. The people with the most influence to speak to the leaders often won't. The lavish, superstar-driven lifestyle usually dulls the inner circle because of all the goodies and 'bling' that come to them. When the voice of their spouse or inner circle is either ignored or silent, the people with the greatest chance of correcting the superstar won't or don't.

The problem with superstar-driven influencers and leaders is they create a crisis of incompetence, inefficiency, relationship problems, and ineffectiveness. Why? They are not getting their job done. Eventually, the “There’s no problem until there’s a problem,” reality happens. The chickens come home to roost, and consequences are activated. Who are the wounded victims inflicted with super-scars? Every day, people, marriages, businesses, the economy, government, media, communities, cities, and even countries. 

Now that you know the issues surrounding superstar-driven leadership, it's time to act. We all have a role in correcting these behaviors and preventing them from taking root in our own leadership areas. Remember, the ability to simplify means eliminating the unnecessary so the necessary may speak (Hans Hoffman). Here’s the simple answer. Let's unite and commit to creating a healthier, more effective leadership culture in ourselves and the leaders of society who influence us.