Good Leaders Are Good Followers

Image courtesy of Dan Colcer

A young woman was filling out an application for college when she came across the question: Are you a leader? She thought she had better be brutally honest, so she answered, "No." She was convinced when she sent the application in that she'd never hear from them because of that answer.
 
But she received a letter back from the school that read: "We have reviewed numerous applications and, to date, there will be some 1,452 new leaders attending school next year. We have decided to accept your application because we felt it was imperative that they have at least one follower."
 
Should all of us be leaders all of the time? Isn’t there a time to follow as well as lead?
 
One man likes to tell about the day he purchased a novelty sign and hung it on his office door. The sign read: "I'm the boss." The next day he came to work he noticed that the office comedian affixed a sticky note to his door that read, "Your wife called. She wants her sign back."
 
He may be the boss at work, but home is different altogether. In marriage and family as well as most social relationships, sometimes we lead and sometimes we follow the lead of another. If the so-called boss happens to be an effective leader at work, he has probably learned that getting his own way all of the time does not produce good results. As it turns out, the best leaders are also excellent followers. Why?
 
1. Good leaders share leadership. They know when to follow and when to lead.
 
2. Good leaders build their skills on following role models for the behaviors they want to learn. What they admire in another, they copy.
 
3. Good leaders exhibit humility. They remain open to suggestion. When they need it, they ask for help and follow good advice.
 
In other words, good leaders are also good followers. They know when to follow in the footsteps of others and when to leave tracks of their own.
 
You may be the boss, but you will be a leader when you also learn how to follow.
 
-- Steve Goodier


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Who's Your Hero?

One of those strange newspaper stories told of a 19-year-old woman who had been charged in Los Angeles with two counts of trespassing - after sneaking into the home of actor Brad Pitt and trying on his clothes. I suppose we have different ways of adoring our heroes....

But who are our real heroes? I was given a little quiz recently. See how well you do:

• Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
• Name five Olympic gold medalists.
• Name the last five winners of your national beauty contest.
• Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
• Name the last half-dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
• Name the last decade’s national or world champions in your favorite sport.

These people, of course, are the best in their fields. But fame is fleeting and outstanding performance is too soon forgotten.

Now try another quiz:

• List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
• Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
• Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
• Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
• Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
• Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

If you found the second quiz easier, it may be because those people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the best degrees or pedigrees, nor are they the most honored or acclaimed. The people who make a difference are those who care. They may never have seen a battle; never scored a winning goal; never been featured in a magazine. But they have been busy helping you to be the best you can be.

Let’s remember and thank our real heroes. And don’t be surprised if someone thanks you.

-- Steve Goodier

Image: flickr.com/Shaun Wong

The Easiest Way to Learn

A true story points to a universal truth about human beings: we learn best by watching how others behave.

President Calvin Coolidge once invited friends from his hometown to dine with him at the White House. Unsure of their table manners, the guests decided to imitate the president. They watched closely to see which utensils he used, what foods he ate and when.

Their strategy seemed to succeed until coffee was served. Coolidge poured some coffee into his saucer. They did the same. He added sugar and cream. His guests did, too. Then the president bent over and put his saucer on the floor for the cat!

Like Coolidge’s hometown guests, we, too, seem to learn best by imitation. Kids learn by observing parents when they are young, and by copying their peers as they grow older. In fact, parents should probably be less concerned about whether their children are paying attention to them and more worried about the fact that their kids are ALWAYS watching.

They tell us that adults learn in much the same way. If you’re struggling with your computer or want to learn to drive a car, you will be more successful if you have someone show you how to do it. You can always read the operator’s manual and try to figure everything out yourself, but you will learn best by watching others and asking questions.

What if you want to become more self confident, to organize your life, to be a better parent or to get along better with others? Again, we’re told that the best way to learn these skills and attitudes is to find somebody who already is confident, or who is an effective parent or who has healthy attitudes and then mimic the traits you want to adopt. It is the easiest and quickest way to shape your life.

Just about ANY personality trait or skill can be learned: simply find it in someone you know and copy it. Then watch what happens.

-- Steve Goodier

Image: flickr.com/Shannon McGee