The Teacher Becomes the Student -- Followership at it's Finest

I observed an interesting family dynamic in church a few week ago.  The family consisted of a mother, father, and teenage son.  Dad was holding mom's hand and at the same time touching his son's head.  They all seemed to be struggling with something as the mom cried and the teen hung his head and wrung his hands. The father was teary-eyed as well.  I thought, what an awesome example of a strong man and good father holding his family together and supporting them in what seemed to be a time of trouble.  At this point in the service the lights were low, but when the lights came up, I notices a few other things.  The son was well groomed and well dressed.  However, the parents were a bit more unkempt -- torn and wrinkled clothes, dad was unshaken, shoes were muddy.  The teen got up at one point and walked out of the auditorium with a group of other young men.  He seemed to be leading the pack and clearly was no stranger among them.  It was then that I considered a different possibly -- perhaps it was the son who was holding that family together or providing direction that day.  Maybe he brought them to church with him. Perhaps he had been an encouraging force that lead to this moment of family unity, emotion, and sharing.   

That led me to remember that a willingness to follow is just as important and an ability to lead. In fact, authentic leaders are skilled at both. I had a client who told me he always leads and he never followers. However, I contend that if one never follows they miss opportunities to learn from others, and develop tactically and intellectually. Failure to follow means one doesn't recognize that others may be more knowledgeable in certain areas.  The belief that no one else could possibly have the right answers is a fallacy. I cautioned my client that his unwillingness to follow, could mean he'll miss out on the wisdom and experience of others.  

Can you imagine if a marching band refused to follow their band leader -- all of them literally marching to the beat of their own drum. They wouldn't produce a melodious sound or a precision performance.  Likewise, the Miracle on the Hudson could have turned out quite differently if the co-pilot of US Airways flight 1549 was not willing to take direction from Captain Sullenberger.  

Here is what I advise for my client and others who refuse to follow:

• Look for opportunities to learn from others.  
• Purposely seek opinions and input -- a willingness to listen is critical here. 
• Don't be too quick to judge -- sometimes great information and ideas come from unlikely sources.  
• Find a mentor -- being a protege is by definition a following role.  This will help hone those follower-ship skills.

When it's time, the student becomes to teacher;  the leader becomes the follower.  Be open to it.  

www.yourenhance.com

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A 360 Approach to Intentional Leadership

Have you ever paid attention to hamsters?  They go round and round on their little wheel, but get no where. Sometimes we as business people can be like those poor aimless hamsters -- continually doing the same task and getting nowhere fast. Perhaps you are pursuing the same goal you didn't attain last year or giving the same incentives to your team with no results.  Or, maybe you are reiterating the same information and no one is paying attention.  How do we get off the hamster wheel? You do so by becoming an intentional leader.  

There are a few things that intentional leaders pursue consistently:

Customer Focus -- An intentional leader remembers who he is supposed to be serving, internally and externally.  Focus on pursuits that serve the greater good. Encourage your team to focus on actions -- not just activities -- that make a difference for your customer.   What things can you do today and everyday to increase customer satisfaction, loyalty,  repeat business and/or market share?

Brand Identity - What do you want to be known as and known for?  That's the question you need to answer now.  It's more than just a slogan or catch phrase.  It's what you want people to say about you, your business, and your products and services.  It's closely linked to your reputation.  When you're off your hamster wheel, you're focused on strategies that help you increase brand recognition and awareness.  If you're brand is damaged, what can you do to turn that around?  If your brand is unknown, how can you communicate and increase awareness?  

Vision - Your organization has a vision.  Whether it's written, spoken, or implied, there is something that drives it.  It  might also be called your purpose.   As an intentional leader, you need to communicate the vision early and often.  A clearly communicated vision helps eliminate unanswered questions, deep-seated doubts, and ongoing confusion.  When considering a new project, initiative, or directive, ask yourself if it supports the vision.  If it doesn't, it might be the wrong move.  

Humanity - It may sound like a warm and fuzzy principle, and in some ways it is.  Nevertheless, showing interest in the needs and concerns of others matters in the results they produce. Empathy, support, listening, and sharing help to build trust and promotes optimal performance. Talk to your team and invite them to talk to you.  When they do, ask clarifying questions, such as 'how did you reach that conclusion?'; 'how is the situation impacting you?';  or 'what do you need from me?'

Everything you do should support what you're good at, who you serve, and what you want to be known for doing.  When leaders remain intentional about these key areas,  every decision has a clearer path, every problem has a clearer solution, and every day has a clearer focus.  

www.yourenhance.com
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