ABSTRACT
Authentic leaders either learn to avoid the temptations or to overcome the personality flaws that lead to these destructive behaviors; leaders who lose their way do not. Leaders who move beyond the hero stage learn to focus on others, gain a sense of a larger purpose, foster multiple support networks, and develop mechanisms to keep perspective and stay grounded. The five perils of the leadership journey are: being an imposter; rationalizing; glory seeking; playing the loner; and being a shooting star. As rationalizers find themselves facing greater challenges, they transmit pressure to their subordinates instead of modulating it. Leaders who seek glory are motivated by a need for acclaim. The hazard of being derailed by glory-seeking stems from the need for external reinforcement of their self-worth. Corporate managers who have successfully traveled the leadership journey can be an organization's most adaptive and flexible resource.
