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One thing before you become a great leader
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Posted by editor Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:26:16 PDT
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1 response 1 comment Have you ever read a book on leadership? Maybe the better question is, “How many leadership books have you read?

Leadership’s in kind of everything everybody writes about. Think I’m exaggerating? Well, when I type in the word “leadership” into the search engine for books at Amazon, it comes up with 16,573 opportunities for me to read up on the subject.

That’s more books than most people will ever read in their entire life. It would probably be my luck to read 15,000 of them only to find out I had missed the really important ones. And that’s precisely the question: which of these books contain the real truths and wisdom about leadership? Obviously, with so many contributions, there are bound to be some hugely diverging views and even some totally worthless theories put forward.

When it comes to leadership, whom should we believe?

Leadership is a task all of us are called to provide in some manner or situation. If you’re a parent, you are a leader to your children. You may be a terrible leader or you may be outstanding. Like it or not, your children are watching and learning from you. You’ve heard the old, “Do as I say, not what I do.” It doesn’t work because the coconut never falls far from the tree.

Some of us have great leadership roles and others lesser. Most leadership, contrary to popular opinion, is informal. These leadership roles aren’t given by title or position, but are simply someone stepping into a gap at a moment in time. Somebody had to take charge and break the inertia. It may be someone suggesting we all go out for a bite to eat. It’s the person who, when everybody else says they don’t care where we go (can’t make up their minds) pipes up, “Let’s go to Mimi’s!” Of course, when the practical one in the gang demurs that the nearest Mimi’s is two hours away, the leadership is challenged. But with the right group of crazies, this suggestion might be adopted in a heartbeat. Any excuse to just get out of town!
What I am going to suggest may be heresy to some. Before you can be a great leader, you must first become a great follower.

Following is vastly under appreciated. No leader can be truly great without sensational followers. Jesus Christ, a simple carpenter from a small and rustic village in a tiny country, has impacted the course of history more than any other person this world has ever known. Whether you are his follower or not, your world has been shaped and impacted by this solitary life.

He invested his life mainly in twelve very human guys who spent three years following him around. They got to learn from both his direct mentorship and observing him in action as he interacted with the people of Israel. One of these fellows was a total disaster, even betrayed him. The other eleven ordinary men went on to become pillars of a new faith that has significantly shaped what we know today as western civilization. This obscure peasant’s influence has endured over two thousand years. Eleven of these initial twelve followers went on to become extraordinary leaders.

Leadership is always exalted over “followership.” I searched Amazon for books on being a follower and found only 625 choices. Seems the subject of following isn’t very popular.

I confess. I’ve had issues myself with being a follower. I’m way too much like the old Frank Sinatra tune, “I Did It My Way.” In many ways, this old chestnut has become the anthem for rugged individualists glorified by our culture.

There’s a perverse delight we derive in adulating the Donald Trumps of the world who proclaim “You’re fired!” We marvel at the double-dealings of the conniving, scheming contestants on “Survival” believing this is “reality.”

And, sadly, it probably is true to life in many situations. Yet, I believe the only lasting successes come in this world when actions result in good for all.

Next week, we’ll take a look at why good followers ultimately become the best leaders.

Mark Moore is a Chartered Financial Consultant with Q4 Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member NASD/SIPC. Your feedback is valued. Email Mark at MarkM@Q4Financial.net.

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Comment From: paralegal39years

I really do hope your column is read by all. The last paragraph to this article is a moment for pause -- ". . .the only lasting successes come in this world when actions RESULT in good for all." It's all in the RESULT -- therein lies the barometer. I learned 39 years ago in law -- there are only 3 things that are important -- "results" -- "results" -- and "results". Not appearances -- but empirical results espoused by a Majority.