Have you become a threat to your leader?

By Dr. Toye Sobande · First published in BusinessDay, 9 October 2026

High performers are often surprised to find themselves sidelined by the very leader they have worked hard to support. Dr. Sobande argues that how a leader perceives you can matter as much as what you actually do.

The argument

Start with honest self-examination. Some behaviours genuinely do threaten a leader: building personal loyalty rather than loyalty to the mission, second-guessing decisions after they are made, or taking credit without sharing it upward. Others are signs you are perceived as a threat even when you are not: exclusion from meetings, information drying up, coolness toward your wins, or work that is quietly checked or undercut.

The remedy is to make your success visibly strengthen your leader: share credit, communicate early to prevent misunderstanding, and show commitment without flattery. If you have done all of this and are still held back, the problem may be a leader too insecure to let others grow, and the wiser move may be to find a different one.

Key takeaways

• Perception can cost you opportunities even when your conduct is loyal.
• Check your own behaviour before blaming your leader.
• Watch for exclusion, lost information flow and cool responses to your wins.
• Make your leader look good: share credit and communicate proactively.
• If alignment does not help, the leader may not be able to support your growth.

“The most dangerous thing you can be to a small leader is excellent.”

Dr. Toye Sobande

A question to take away

Does your leader experience your success as a gain for them, or as a comparison?