745,355. That’s how many prescriptions a fake pharmacist was accused of approving or filling. For over 10 years, this person also gave vaccinations, supervised techs, and even advised patients about their medications, and did so as an employee of a major pharmacy chain. And she wasn’t even a licensed pharmacist! She is not alone in being a fraud. Many people claim to be someone they are not by faking or inflating who they really are. And this includes plenty of leaders, managers, and even pastors. Here are six signs that someone is a fake.
1. Talkers
This is what I refer to as a gasbag – they talk far more than they deliver. (I could not find a better word and the other options would have been deemed offensive by some😊). They talk a good talk and are never at a loss for words, but their leadership and track record don’t seem to match those words. Fake leaders haven’t yet learned, “The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.” Proverbs 10:19.
2. Deceivers
Fraudulent leaders often have gaps between what they say and what they actually do. I remember reading a published article by an author I knew. And I also knew what was written was inaccurate. It was so inaccurate that I even called the publisher to question their judgment regarding publishing information that had never been verified. But the publisher felt it did not matter! The fraudulent leader not only deceived the reader, the publisher gave further credibility to the fraud.
3. Blamers
Fake leaders are notorious for shifting the blame to others when something fails. They are a bit like Teflon – nothing ever sticks to them. Declining numbers? Not their fault. Deficits? Someone else’s failure. Time for a layoff? Everyone is on the line – except himself. I remember listening to a nationally known leader tell the story of how his organization ended up in trouble after a major expansion, resulting in the laying off of almost 40 employees. But he never took any responsibility for getting them into that situation in the first place. Why? He had mastered the art of blaming.
4. Exaggerators
Fake leaders are infamous for over-inflating their accomplishments. As one employee of the White House painfully learned, there is a big difference between a certificate from a university and a degree. I remember reading the online biography of a person I knew from the past. He claimed to be a major factor in the past success of an organization, but he never even mentioned the person who actually was the key player (and no, it wasn’t me)! What he said wasn’t 100% false – but it was ridiculously inflated!
5. Hiders
Fake leaders often keep others who are smarter or better at a distance. They hide behind the mediocre or average. Why? Because it is hard to hide your fraud when sharp people are around. I remember watching a leader who had become the newly appointed head of an organization. She circled herself with a combination of nice but inexperienced managers – but mostly mediocre ones – at a time when the organization needed an “A” team. Fake leaders are skilled at hiding their incompetence by shunning top talent and also not allowing people to get too close, thus keeping their mystery and illusion well nourished.
6. Deflectors
Have you ever watched a really talented magician? How did they make that bird come out of the woman’s ear?! They deflect your attention away from what they do not want you to see. Some fake leaders are so good at this that it is as if they are magicians themselves! They skillfully use their words and even sleight of hand to mesmerize those around them. There is nothing wrong with being inspiring. That is a true gift. But those who are genuinely inspirational focus your attention on the vision. Those who deflect direct your attention away from their incompetence and even pathology.
As leaders, we are imperfect, and we all fall short. Somewhere in our journey, we have braggingly took the credit or weakly blamed others for a failure for which we were at least partly responsible. The difference between the imperfections of many leaders and the fake leader is the chronic nature of the person’s inconsistencies and damaging behavior. Sometimes they know they are doing it, but it is often such a deeply embedded part of who they are that they no longer are aware of it. It is like their skin – they wear it 24/7 but do not pay much attention to it. It’s just part of who they are.
When you see someone regularly manifesting one of these six traits (and usually more than one), you may be watching a fake leader. Fake leaders can change, but not easily. Change takes humility and a deeper understanding of what is driving their behavior. Don’t write them off. If you see a window of openness and teachability, take the chance to talk with them about what you see and how you desire to help them grow into being the leader you know they can become.
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Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
