Leadership

At a sharing session on leadership, our CEO brought up Patrick Lencioni's "The Five Temptations of A CEO". He also discussed on the significant tenets of being a leader.

Then, there was this concept of Courage To Lead vs Courage To Follow.

I smiled a secret smile. Because it sounded like a line from what I watched on tv last night. In Season 7 Ep 19 of Buffy, Faith said,

"I didn't come here to take anything away from you but I'm not gonna be your little lap dog either. I came here to beat the other guy, to do right, however it works. I don't know if I can lead but the real question is can you follow?"

My problem is, I read all these concepts on thought leadership and management strategies. But they don't mean anything to me till I consciously put them into a personal perspective.

Like how I'm flopped on the couch watching Buffy struggle to lead and co-exist with the equally-strong Faith (who might or might not be competent). It's all good to see how it pans out in Season 7. :)

Or relate it to how I'm perched on the sharp rocks mulling over the best way to get to the top and I go the path suggested by the shouts down below.

Or how I prefer to have the novice diver lead the way if it's looking good. To quietly watch, feel the currents and let him explore; stepping in only if I get a bad feeling.

Or how I'm navigator in the lead car of a convoy going to an unknown destination with a bad map and having to make snap decisions at the turns along the way, secure in the knowledge that each car is equipped with phones, transmitter radios, walkie-talkies, water, chocolates, sandwiches and first aid kits.

It's not really all that different, is it?