Leadership is often romanticized. Many aspire to it—but not always for the right reasons.
True leadership is a calling that demands responsibility, discipline, self-awareness, and a commitment to serve others. Yet too often, individuals are drawn to leadership not to give, but to gain. They seek the perks of the position rather than the purpose of the role.
At the root of this misguided pursuit lie three powerful temptations—what I call the 3 P’s of Leadership Decline: Popularity, Power, and Pleasure. These forces, if left unchecked, can quietly erode a leader’s character and credibility.
3 P’s of Leadership Decline
1. Popularity: The Mirage of Approval
Leaders who chase popularity often become performers rather than principled guides. They reflect what followers want to hear, choosing acceptance over authenticity. Their language is polished but vague, filled with feel-good statements that lack substance.
We see this often in politics and corporate boardrooms—leaders who traffic in slogans and generalities, avoiding anything that might risk disapproval. The result? A style-over-substance approach that feels hollow and directionless.
While popularity can offer short-term validation, it rarely leads to long-term respect.
2. Power: The Seduction of Control
The pursuit of power can quickly shift from ambition to obsession.
Leaders hungry for control become predators—always on the hunt for their next win, their next conquest. Each success feeds the ego, and before long, humility gives way to hubris.
But power for its own sake is a dangerous game. It isolates leaders from truth, blinds them to feedback, and inflates a sense of invincibility. Eventually, what began as a drive to lead becomes a thirst to dominate.
3. Pleasure: The Trap of Indulgence
When leaders gain popularity and power, the temptation of pleasure often follows. Whether it’s status, luxury, attention, or indulgence—these momentary highs can distract from the responsibilities of leadership.
Pleasure-seeking leaders lose their focus. They forget their mission. They trade long-term impact for short-term gratification.
And when this happens, cracks begin to form beneath the surface. Integrity erodes. Trust fades. The leadership structure becomes hollow—like a tree with dry rot: impressive on the outside, decaying within.
The Fallout: A Predictable End
The pursuit of popularity, power, or pleasure—alone or in combination—always leads to the same place: guilt, shame, and unfulfilled potential.
Eventually, the truth emerges. And when it does, the fall from grace is often swift and painful.
The Better Path: Principle-Driven Leadership
Thankfully, not all leaders are seduced by these temptations.
Some choose a different path—one grounded in values, integrity, and service. These leaders embrace truth, welcome accountability, and prioritize purpose over personal gain. They surround themselves with courageous voices who tell them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear.
These are the leaders who grow in wisdom, deepen in insight, and build lasting trust.
Every leader stands at a fork in the road. One path leads to self-serving leadership masked by privilege. The other leads to principled leadership anchored in humility and service.
The choice isn’t easy—but it is clear.
As the old adage goes: “Those who do not seek power are often the ones most fit to wield it.”
Let us remember this as we develop, mentor, and choose the leaders we follow.
If you want to dig a little deeper on this topic, read this previous article I wrote after a recent leadership weekend I facilitated.
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