--- title: Four Diseases That Weaken Leaders | The Sales Blog description: "Here are four diseases that weaken leaders and damage their ability to produce results through others. Inability to Control Your Own State: If you want to prove that you have no real power, lose your temper and fly off the handle. An inability to control your own state is a sign of weakness, not power. […]" image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2014-03-19-at-9_04_01-PM.png --- ### [Now booking SKO meetings for 2026/27! 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An inability to control your own state is a sign of weakness, not power. The greater your ability to [control your own state](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/03/02/be-exceptional-at-what-is-in-your-control/), especially when you are under pressure, the more powerful you are. Controlling your own state makes you a more compelling, more powerful leader. **Inability to Exercise Patience and Tolerance**: Losing your patience and demonstrating your intolerance over things that get under your skin is a sign of weakness. A leader holds people to a standard, but the real craft of leading is in how the leader upholds their standard. Patience and tolerance when dealing with people challenges demonstrates a type of [caring](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/01/28/your-leadership-value-proposition/) that makes you easy to follow. **Inability to Use Persuasion Over Force**: The use of [force](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/01/13/selling-is-persuasion-not-force/), or formal authority, is the least effective tool in the leader’s toolbox (even though it is sometimes necessary). Great leaders infuse work with meaning, mission, and values. They use persuasion over force, building their case for a certain outcome, a certain set of behaviors. **Inability to Be Compassionate**: It’s okay to be a driver. It’s quite necessary that you hold people [accountable](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/09/28/how-to-hold-people-accountable/) as a leader. But your hard-charging drive needs to be matched by an equal measure of compassion. People are not a means to an end. They are the end. None of this means you compromise your standard. None of this means you are soft when it comes to protecting what matters. All of these ideas mean that you put people first, that you build them up instead of tearing them down, and that you live the values you want to instill in those you lead. #### Questions How do you control your own state when you are under pressure? What do you do when you aren’t controlling your state? What do you do to exercise patience when your patience is tested? What causes you to resort to force, or formal, organizational chart authority, over persuasion? Would people use the word compassionate to describe you, even though you are a hard-charging driver? Or would they use some other word?   ###### Tags: [Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/sales) [Leadership](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/leadership) [2014](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2014) Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino) on March 19, 2014 Written and edited by human brains and human hands. ![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg) Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success. Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars. Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. You can email Anthony at [iannarino@gmail.com](mailto:iannarino@gmail.com) [Follow me on my website](https://www.thesalesblog.com/anthony-iannarino) [Follow me on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/thesalesblog) [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iannarino/) [Follow me on Twitter ](http://www.twitter.com/iannarino) [![AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/authority) [![ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg?width=318&height=179&name=ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/free-cold-calling-video) ![how-to-lead-ebook-v3-1-cover (3)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/how-to-lead-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(3).jpg?width=768&height=994&name=how-to-lead-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(3).jpg) ### How to Lead: The Leadership E-Book As leaders, we're faced with decisions everyday—not all of which are easy to make. Learn how to make those tough decisions, hold yourself and your team accountable, and build a legacy with How to Lead: The Leadership E-Book. [![DOWNLOAD EBOOK](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d345d648-812a-428a-81e4-53ce30822212.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d345d648-812a-428a-81e4-53ce30822212) ## Are You Ready To Solve Your Sales Challenges? ![Anthony-Solve-Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Anthony-Solve-Sales.png?width=290&height=221&name=Anthony-Solve-Sales.png) Hi, I’m Anthony. I help sales teams make the changes needed to create more opportunities & crush their sales targets. What we’re doing right now **is working**, even in this challenging economy. **Would you like some help?** [![Solve for Sales](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035) ### Join my Weekly Newsletter for Sales Tips Join 100,000+ sales professionals in my weekly newsletter and get my *Guide to Becoming a Sales Hustler* eBook for FREE! --- ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org/", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Anthony Iannarino" }, "dateModified" : "2021-09-17T1:27:49 PM", "datePublished" : "2014-03-19 21:16:47", "description" : "Here are four diseases that weaken leaders and damage their ability to produce results through others. Inability to Control Your Own State: If you want to prove that you have no real power, lose your temper and fly off the handle. 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