"Matt outworked his peers and risen a rung too high on the career ladder-at least, too high for the good of anything but his insecure ego. Constantly fearing his bluff would be blown, he overcompensated by striving to impress upward while leading from fear. His anxiety seeped through his management team, then filtered into the ranks beneath, chipping away at everyone's courage. He micromanaged, filtered feedback, and pushed out anyone who challenged him-the best, brightest, and boldest."
"Chances are you've met someone like Matt. They're crushing every deadline, exceeding every target, climbing every ladder. But look closer, and you may also see fractured relationships, disenchanted colleagues, and toxic team dynamics in their wake.Meet the "insecure overachiever"-exceptionally capable people whose deep-seated insecurities override their nobler aspirations. These aren't garden-variety workaholics. They're high performers driven by a gnawing fear of not being enough: not smart enough, valued enough, worthy enough."
Insecure overachievers produce high measurable output while operating from fear and self-doubt. They overcompensate by impressing upward and tightly controlling teams. Anxiety-driven leadership spreads through management and lowers team courage. Micromanagement, filtered feedback, and removal of challengers erode talent and create toxic cultures. Organizations often reward visible productivity, unintentionally reinforcing dysfunction. Short-term wins mask long-term costs like talent loss, diminished collaboration, and decreased resilience in crisis. Chronic anxiety leads to sacrificed health, fractured relationships, and fleeting satisfaction after success. Competitors gain ground when insecure leaders adopt a play-not-to-lose mentality.
Read at Fast Company
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