Follow the Leader
You remember playing the game, right? The leader does something and everybody behind him or her has to do the same. Of course, if you grew up in the neighborhood where I was a kid (til age 9, that is), you played follow the leader with the older kids and invariably they would lead you to do something either incredibly stupid or stupidly dangerous. They had much longer legs, of course, and could jump over the mud creek out back...but my stubby little 6 year old legs couldn't come anywhere near clearing it.
Splash - slurp - up to my knees in mud...
I learned very early to be really careful what leaders I follow - and to watch for where they were leading me.
The truth is, I think, we will follow a good leader even into some dangerous and scary territory, if we believe a few things:
A. They know where they are going
B. They are trustworthy
C. They care what happens to those who follow them
There are probably other characteristics, but those are really the top three for me.
I read this article this morning 10 Reasons People Will Follow A Leader and I thought it illuminating. Here are the aforementioned reasons for...well...whoever reads this :)
10 Reasons People Will Follow a Leader Anywhere:
1. They have a mind of their own, not a “Yes Man or Yes Woman.”
2. They always maintain a high degree of integrity.
3. They don’t have temper tantrums; yell, scream, cuss.
4. They truly care about their employees personally--what’s happening in their lives outside of the organization.
5. They are committed to developing and making every team member better. They maximize the gifts of their employees, don’t micro-manage and free-up their employees to soar. Under their tutelage employees are better leaders both personally and professionally.
6. They always let their employees know where they stand, no surprises.
7. They are willing to receive input and feedback from employees throughout the organizational chart.
8. They balance confidence and humility. Did I mention they are confident!
9. They can remain appropriately calm under pressure, under fire, under the gun…
10. They produce results and success--they’re winners! Although they are successful they understand that their commitment to this world is beyond their role, beyond their degree, beyond their success… Their mark will truly be identified as someone who genuinely cared about people and made positive impacts in the lives of people.
Splash - slurp - up to my knees in mud...
I learned very early to be really careful what leaders I follow - and to watch for where they were leading me.
The truth is, I think, we will follow a good leader even into some dangerous and scary territory, if we believe a few things:
A. They know where they are going
B. They are trustworthy
C. They care what happens to those who follow them
There are probably other characteristics, but those are really the top three for me.
I read this article this morning 10 Reasons People Will Follow A Leader and I thought it illuminating. Here are the aforementioned reasons for...well...whoever reads this :)
10 Reasons People Will Follow a Leader Anywhere:
1. They have a mind of their own, not a “Yes Man or Yes Woman.”
2. They always maintain a high degree of integrity.
3. They don’t have temper tantrums; yell, scream, cuss.
4. They truly care about their employees personally--what’s happening in their lives outside of the organization.
5. They are committed to developing and making every team member better. They maximize the gifts of their employees, don’t micro-manage and free-up their employees to soar. Under their tutelage employees are better leaders both personally and professionally.
6. They always let their employees know where they stand, no surprises.
7. They are willing to receive input and feedback from employees throughout the organizational chart.
8. They balance confidence and humility. Did I mention they are confident!
9. They can remain appropriately calm under pressure, under fire, under the gun…
10. They produce results and success--they’re winners! Although they are successful they understand that their commitment to this world is beyond their role, beyond their degree, beyond their success… Their mark will truly be identified as someone who genuinely cared about people and made positive impacts in the lives of people.
Comments