Who’s Leading Whom?
by Bert Oliva
We all want to be leaders. A leader of our community. A leader in our workplace. A thought leader. The idea of being a leader appeals to us psychologically because we want to be in control.
However, to truly be a great leader, we must first learn how to follow. No matter where you are in your life, there is someone whose example you can and should follow, even if it is just for a moment or two.
There are times when I follow my children’s leads and even my students’ leads. I consciously place myself in a follower role on a regular basis throughout my week. I enjoy being a follower. It gives you a new perspective and new ideas. Moreover, subconsciously speaking, when we allow ourselves to be a follower, we take off some of the invisible stress we place on ourselves when we are attempting to lead all the time. By removing this stress, we become more open-minded and creative.
There are five levels of leadership according to the Office of Personnel Management and the first one is self leadership. This means that you must first learn to lead yourself before you can be a leader at any of the other levels. Allowing yourself to be led by others whom you wish to be more like is a good step toward learning to lead yourself.
So, this week, I challenge you to find at least one person whom you can follow. Consciously put yourself in the follower role and see what lessons you learn and what ideas are cultivated.
Live Life,
Bert Oliva
Quote This:
“He who can not be a good follower can not be a good leader.” – Aristotle
FEB