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The "Living with Heart" Podcast is brought to you by Chip Dodd Resources (www.chipdodd.com) and The Voice of the Heart Center (vothcenter.com). You can connect with Dr. Chip Dodd at [email protected]. Contact Bryan Barley for coaching at [email protected]. 

The 5 Pitfalls are descending steps. One step connects to another with predictable effects. 

Some leaders have referred to the descent as a “chain reaction.” 

The Five Pitfalls:

These pitfalls can destroy careers, friendships, reputations, marriages and families—unless one finds freedom from them.

People Become Things

Leaders enter the world of doing good because they wish the pain of the world to be treated, bettered, or healed. 

However, as the leader slips into the pitfalls: 

The leader whose worth is trapped in work, and whose performance is valued more than their presence shows symptoms of people becoming things

They experience “feeling drained” of the passion or energy that had compelled them in the beginning. 

Whether slowly or rapidly, the leader becomes restless, irritable, and discontent.

Indicators of restlessness and irritable can be overt or covert, but the symptoms are “known” to the leader, but not accurately taken responsibility for. 

Compulsivity takes over for “being compelled.”

Blame, projection onto others, and denial are hallmarks of the impaired leader at Pitfall #3.

*The family is usually affected first and foremost, before the signs are noted by others who the leader influences.

In the name of loyalty the family members begin to take on feelings of “self-blame” and toxic shame that comes with the leader’s self-negligence.

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