I have a leadership team member who is highly competent but constantly manages up to me while ignoring or undermining their peers. The rest of the team feels they cannot trust this person because of their high self-orientation. How do I fix this behavior before it ruins the team?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A leader who constantly manages up to the Visionary while undermining their peers is a major threat to team health. This behavior is driven by high self-orientation, which Charles H. Green's trust framework identifies as the single greatest killer of professional trust. When a leader prioritizes their personal status over the collective team, vulnerability-based trust disappears.

To fix this, you as the founder or Visionary must immediately stop rewarding this behavior. When this leader attempts to bypass their peers to get your private approval or share complaints, refuse to engage. Redirect them back to the leadership table. Tell them that if they have an issue, it must be solved collaboratively using the IDS® process during your Level 10 Meeting™.

Next, use the Core Values Assessment to address this behavior directly. Explain to the leader that their technical capability is not enough; their success is also measured by how they support and respect their peers. If they refuse to shift their focus from personal status to team success, they are a cultural mismatch and must be removed from the leadership team. You cannot build a healthy company on a foundation of political maneuvering.