There’s a lot out there on leadership. TED Talks, books, articles, top 10 lists and more are easily accessible. Leadership has evolved over time away from titles to more of a personality. Anyone can be a leader at any time and any place is more the mantra these days. It’s a great mantra. However, the one thing you don’t read or hear much about is following. In fact, I would venture to say that most people reading this would list leader and follower as antonyms. This is the notion that I really want to challenge.
The premise I have is simple: great leaders are also great followers. How can you be both? Well, it’s situational. Great leaders are so aware of their own capabilities that they also inherently have an amazing grasp on their limitations or areas where they still need development and growth. A great leader knows when it’s time to defer to someone else’s area of strength. They know when it’s time to get behind someone. They utilize their unique skill set to empower someone else’s solution. They follow and contribute to the group even if it’s not their own, original idea driving the group's focus. Great leaders don’t just empower others or follow in their footsteps, they make sure that the credit goes to the appropriate place as well. Great leaders don’t “need their name in lights” or live for a headline. They get their greatest sense of joy and satisfaction from the successes of those around them, not their own personal gains. They would rather see their team win and be a “role player” than have a superstar performance going down in defeat. You can be a leader. You can be a follower. Knowing which one to choose and when to choose it is what sets great 21st century leaders apart from the others.
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January 2020
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