Fear-centered leadership can wreak havoc with your organization and your life writes Mike Staver, author of the December PM magazine cover story “Eliminating the Fear Factor: 16 Ways to Lead with Courage.” People don’t always realize how fear influences decision making or how managing the fallout from poor decisions can affect quality of work and personal life.

You may be leading from a place of fear if the following behaviors apply to you:

1. You frequently take the easy way out.

2. You pretend you don’t’ know what you actually know.

3. You fall victim to “shiny ball” syndrome.

4. You ignore what’s causing “weight and drag” in your organization.

5. You refuse to balance your head and your gut.

6. You hide behind the “I’m not quite ready” excuse.

7. You forsake the present in favor of the future or the past.

8. You see only the information that agrees with your beliefs.

9. You’re constantly blaming others.

10. You apply more pressure instead of looking for “pinch points.”

11. You’re too harsh.

12. You’re an over-recognizer.

13. You reward effort rather than achievement.

14. You’re a helicopter leader.

15. You solve problems for people.

16. Mental clutter is keeping you from noticing.

For more details on these behaviors, read the December PM.