Disloyalty in the Hierarchy

Most leaders have experienced suspicions of disloyalty among subordinate leaders.  It manifests itself in many ways.  There have been times when one of my subordinate leaders was seemingly doing a good job, but I felt something disturbing that I could not put my finger on.  Notwithstanding the ever-smiling face, instinct told me something else.  Jealousy, greed, and ambition are the primary pathogens causing disloyalty.  The first signs of disloyalty are often patronizing (popularity-seeking) subordinates and self-promotion; in other words, positioning oneself to the extent that it undermines the leader.

I have a sensing when a subordinate is not on the same page with me philosophically.  In some instances, I can live with it if he is doing a respectable job.  But when it becomes clear that I am  being undermined due to jealousy, greed, and ambition, I have sometimes been too slow to act.  Mostly, it was because I liked the person or for the most part felt he was doing a good job.  I would have saved myself a lot of grief if I had terminated him as soon as I was sure of his motives.