Kill Your Pride: An 8-Day Brave Coaches Journeyਨਮੂਨਾ

The Deception of Self

For men in leadership, confidence is a currency. In the marketplace, ambition is celebrated and decisiveness is rewarded. But the line between healthy confidence and destructive pride is razor-thin and dangerously easy to cross. Pride is a master of disguise; it often presents itself as strength, but it’s almost always masking a deep-seated insecurity. It’s the voice that says you can't afford to look weak, that you must have all the answers, that your image is everything.

This deception plays out in our professional lives every day. It’s the executive who can’t listen to a dissenting opinion because he fears it will undermine his authority. It’s the entrepreneur who burns out trying to project an image of unstoppable success, afraid to admit he needs help. It’s the father who can’t apologize to his kids because he thinks it makes him less of a man.

The Brave Truth: Pride convinces you that you’re protecting your position when, in reality, you’re suffocating your potential. It locks you into a draining cycle of proving your worth and defending your ego.

Consider the people in your life who are highly successful, but can’t handle criticism. Their numbers look great, but their team was miserable. Any feedback, no matter how constructive, feels like a personal attack. They’re often so busy protecting their image as the "top guy" that they become unteachable. It often takes a trusted relationship to share “hard truth” to show them that their greatest obstacle isn’t the competition—it’s their own pride.

Humility, on the other hand, is a leader’s greatest competitive edge. A humble leader is teachable, approachable, and secure enough to surround himself with people who are smarter than him in certain areas. He doesn’t need to be the smartest person in the room; he needs to build the smartest team. This isn’t weakness; it’s a quiet, unshakeable strength rooted not in public opinion but in a secure identity in Christ.

Action Steps:

1. Flip the Script: This week, when you feel the urge to defend your opinion or prove your point, intentionally pause and ask, "What can I learn from this perspective?"
2. Seek Honest Feedback: Identify one trusted colleague, mentor, or friend and ask them this direct question: "Where do you see pride limiting my leadership or my relationships?" Listen without defending.
3. Give Credit Away: Make it a point to publicly and privately praise a team member or family member for their specific contribution, shifting the spotlight off yourself.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what specific area of your life (work, home, personal goals) are you most tempted to protect your image?
2. When was the last time you actively sought out criticism or an opposing viewpoint to make a decision better?
3. How does the fear of being seen as "nothing" (as Galatians 6:3 puts it) drive your behavior as a leader or a man?