Lead The Follower

You often hear the phrase "follow the leader".  It means that there is someone setting the tone, or direction, to help someone else reach a destination.  If you are the follower, you pay attention to the person in front and make decisions based on the pattern (example) that they set for you.  Your job is to follow.  But if that phrase is turned around, how do you lead the follower?  Leadership is a quality that can be displayed in a variety of ways.  Some leaders are vocal, while others don't say much but let their actions speak for them.  Remember, you may be leading without knowing it.  There could be someone watching you and listening to you because they believe your path can get them where they want to go.  The following four general leadership principles are simple, but effective.

• Language - Good leaders speak to your confidence, not at your uncertainty.  They recognize the impact of their words and the significance of their silence.    
• Endurance -  In order to lead, you must be able to withstand distractions and disappointments.  Things will not always go your way.  At those times, others watch how you respond to adversity and pressure.  A leader's composure can influence a follower's focus on the finish line.
• Assembly - When you buy certain products, the instructions may say that some assembly is required. This also applies to the job of a leader.  Part of leadership involves connecting others to the right people and processes to help them in their pursuit of success.
• Depth - Leaders recognize that situations are multi-dimensional so there is often no easy answer to dilemmas.  As they ask questions and peel away the layers to get to the root cause of a problem, they demonstrate the wisdom of methodical decision making.

Leave a comment and share which leadership quality you will focus on this week.