Too often a situation calls upon a person to lead, but they do nothing.  They incorrectly assume that leadership is a position, a position they’re not in.  So they wait, wondering why ‘someone’ doesn’t do something.

Too often a person is restrained from showing leadership by an insecure manager that feels threatened by the person’s attempt to lead.  The manager incorrectly assumes that leadership is a position, their position, and the person must be after their job.  Or the manager is just afraid that if the person leads, the manager will lose control, control they don’t have anyway.

Too often a person steps up to lead and they struggle.  They’re not prepared because the leadership training was reserved for those in management.  And when the person tries to find information on leadership, the material in the category of “Leadership” is really about management, and the good material on leadership is categorized under “Management.”

Too often a person steps up to lead, does well but then gets no credit for it.  Others incorrectly assume that leadership is a position, and that person is not in such a position, so it must have been someone else who made the difference.  And it is sad when the person who led well is discouraged by the whole thing, and hesitates the next time they’re called upon to lead.

It is not often at all that someone is an excellent manager and an excellent leader.  But too often these rare folks aren’t recognized for their leadership ability.  People incorrectly assume their leadership skills are part of their position as a manager.  And the manager/leader never achieves the full measure of their incredible potential.

There is a shortage of leadership.  However, there is no shortage of leaders.  So many leaders are unfortunately trapped by misconceptions around what leadership is and is not.  If we could find a way to untangle the passion of leadership from the position of management, it would free people to be the leaders they are called to be.  And the world would find the leadership it seeks, not just from those in authority, but from people all around.  And most importantly we would find it in ourselves.

Management is a job.  Leadership is life.

Uncle Harold was a Norwegian bachelor farmer from Central Minnesota, about 40 miles west of Lake Wobegon. He was a patient, gentle man, and it showed in his unique method of bringing the cows in from the pasture.

Typically a farmer will get around behind the cows and drive them towards the barn. But Harold would go out to the pasture, gently get the cows’ attention and begin walking back to the barn, with the cows following behind. If the cows stopped to graze for a while, Harold would sit down and smoke his pipe, and wait. When the cows were ready to continue he would get up and start walking towards the barn again.

Uncle Harold was just going out to get the cows, but he provided a beautiful model of leadership.

1. Too often people think they’re leading when all they’re doing is driving the herd.

2. What a difference it makes when the destination is reached, and the followers are there because they chose to be; because they understand it’s where they need to be; because they trust the one they chose to follow.

3. How you work with the cow in the barn determines your ability to lead the herd in the pasture.

“The leader leads, and the boss drives.”  Theodore Roosevelt

 

“If you think you’re leading
and nobody is following,
then all you’re doing
is taking a walk.”  Anon.

This quotation has long been a favorite of mine.  I agree that if nobody is following, you’re not leading.  It’s a simple test for self-assessment of your leadership.

However, dawn recently broke over the proverbial Marblehead and it occurred to me that I was making an assumption.  I was taking it a step further and thinking that if you’re not leading then you’re not a leader.  Hence, my interpretation was that if nobody is following, you are not a leader.

I still agree with the quotation, but not with the assumption I tacked on.  A firefighter is still a firefighter even when they’re not fighting fires.  A leader is still a leader even when they’re not leading.  A leader is something to be, it’s a matter of character.  Leadership is something to do, it is character manifested in action.

A great leader will recognize when a situation calls upon them to lead, and they will be ready, and they will step forward to lead.  However, they also know when to follow.  There may well be times when they are not leading at all, but they are still leaders.

Look behind.  If no one is following, you’re not leading.  That’s ok.  Look ahead.  Who are you following?  Look inside.  Are you a leader?  Are you prepared for leadership?  The moment will call.