I’ve been in the Florida panhandle for a few days, working with two churches. They’re located about an hour north of the Gulf—beautiful country, but it’s tense. And there’s a good reason for it. There’s a hurricane brewing in the Gulf. A real one, not figurative.
Hurricanes don’t often hit this far inland, but if you’ve been around long enough, you know they can. The people here know that all too well. In 2018, Hurricane Michael came roaring through this part of Florida with little warning, and the damage was catastrophic. Six years later, the scars are still there—both physical and emotional.
As soon as “Hurricane Helene” made the news, people started talking. And planning. And fearing. Every conversation I overhear is about this storm. I’m sitting in the airport right now, waiting on my flight back to Atlanta, and both tables beside me are talking about the story. Even though the storm’s path could change, you can’t convince these folks otherwise.
The fear runs deep because they’ve been wounded before.
And isn’t that a lot like leadership?
The Wounds of Leadership
Every leader has scars. Maybe you’ve tried leading through a storm before—a tough decision that didn’t pan out or a team that resisted every move you made. Maybe you put yourself out there and got burned by someone you trusted. Leaders are called to leave their mark, but leadership often leaves marks, too, and not all of them heal with time.
This is what I call Leadership PTSD—where the pain of past decisions, failed projects, or frustrated followers keeps us from leading boldly again. We remember the storms all too well and don’t want to go through that kind of pain again. So we play it safe. We stop leading like we used to, hoping to avoid another storm.
But here’s the catch: just like a hurricane, playing it safe doesn’t protect us. It can expose us to a different kind of damage—the damage that comes from not leading at all.
Why Leadership PTSD Happens
Leaders often carry trauma in a few key areas:
1. Tough Decisions Gone Wrong
You thought you made the right call, but it backfired. Whether it was an unexpected outcome or external factors that derailed your plan, the risk didn’t pay off, and the sting still lingers.
2. Broken Trust
There’s nothing worse than being betrayed by someone you trusted. It leaves a deep wound and makes it hard to trust again—whether that’s in others or in your own instincts.
3. Frustrated Followers
No matter how well-intentioned your leadership, some people will resist. If you’ve faced resistance or outright mutiny, it’s hard not to hear those voices every time you make a new decision.
4. Public Failures
When leadership decisions fail in a very public way, it’s easy to feel humiliated and exposed. These moments leave a lasting mark, making bold leadership even harder the next time.
How Leadership PTSD Affects Your Boldness
Like Floridians who prep for every possible hurricane after experiencing previous devastation, leaders with Leadership PTSD often prepare for the worst—even when it may never come. Here’s how it plays out:
- Fear of Innovation: After a failed project or decision, leaders often become too afraid to take risks again, even though innovation is what could move the organization forward.
- Over-Correcting: To avoid mistakes, leaders may micromanage or become overly cautious, creating a different kind of disaster—stifling creativity and growth.
- Withdrawal: Some leaders retreat after a traumatic leadership experience, avoiding tough decisions altogether for fear of repeating the past.
How to Heal from Leadership PTSD
The good news? You don’t have to live in fear. If you sense you’re living with Leadership PTSD, try this:
1. Reflect Honestly
Take time to reflect on past leadership decisions. What went wrong? What went right? Often, we focus only on the failure, forgetting the wins and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
2. Build a Support Network
Just like people come together before a hurricane, leaders need a trusted network of advisors, mentors, and colleagues who can offer perspective and support when tough decisions arise.
3. Start Small
You don’t need to dive into big, bold moves right away. Start with smaller decisions that stretch you without overwhelming you. Little wins can help rebuild your confidence.
4. Separate Your Identity from the Results
Failure is part of leadership. The best leaders know that their identity is not tied to the success or failure of a single decision. It’s all part of the journey.
Leading Boldly Again
When you push past Leadership PTSD, something powerful happens. You become the leader people need in the storm. Storms make leadership necessary.
Conclusion: Don’t Let the Storm Hold You Back
As a leader, you’ve faced storms. But don’t let fear of the next leadership challenge hold you back from stepping up and leading with boldness. Take stock of where past wounds affect your leadership, and decide to step forward with courage. Your best leadership can still be ahead of you.
Call to Action:
If you struggle to lead boldly because of past leadership scars, now is the time to act. Take steps to heal and step back into the leadership role you’re meant to own.
Quotes from the Post:
- “The scars we carry often teach us more than the successes we celebrate.”
- “Great leaders don’t avoid storms; they learn to lead through them.”
Resources for Further Learning:
- Book: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- Podcast: The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
- Article: The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership, Leading When You Can’t Predict the Future
One More Thing…
If you found this helpful, please pass it along to other leaders (and encourage them to subscribe!). I work hard to help leaders replace their positional authority with relational influence. Let me know if you are interested in a conversation.
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Leading With You,
Dr. Gavin Adams
