Where Is The Value In Following?
In reality, how many of us get to be leaders? Setting vision, strategy, goals. Many go their entire career, making significant contributions, and don’t ever lead. Even the most reknown leaders had to follow at some point in their ascension.
In the October 7th, 2007 edition of the Star Tribune, writer Syl Jones discusses the lost art of following.
What Is Wrong With Following?
Who wants to be known as a good follower? Not most people. We’re brought up to be #1, to lead from the front, to be the best we can be. After all, there is only one captain on a ship, one president, one Most Valuable Player in baseball. How much work in a corporation gets done by leaders v. followers? Leaders don’t execute strategy, followers do. Leaders don’t execute marketing plans, followers do. The ability to challenge, support, guide, and follow, leaders is the hard work.
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We can’t all be “#1″ - that just isn’t possible. We can all bring our best to every job we do - that makes us the best there is, leading or following.
Stumble it!
Joe Raasch :: Oct.12.2007 :: Leadership ::
Being a good follower gives you an opportunity to watch others in action, how they do things, inter-relate and grow with people. Following people allows us to learn enough that we can be the leader at another time. It’s an ebb and flow, give and take of roles, ideas and perspectives.
Great post!
Donna