Weekly Thought – November 5, 2024
Fred wrote much about the multiple facets of leadership. He explored the topic from top to bottom often lifting up corners of the rug to find unexplored areas.
Leadership Is a Function, Not a Title
Some individuals think they are leaders when they really are not. One of my friends in industry was asked by his son, “Dad, what does it take to be a leader?” The man spent an hour struggling to reply and finally in desperation gave the best definition I had heard. “Son, all it takes to be a leader is to have somebody follow you.”
That’s all it takes: followers. If people are not following you, you are not a leader. You may have the title, but that is all. “Leader” is not a title, but a role. You only become a leader by functioning as one.
I remember sitting once in a city park at “Soapbox Corner” where the eccentrics assembled to do their public speaking. One fellow had attracted a large crowd with his harangue. I noticed another man walking around the back of the crowd obviously mad, and gesturing as he muttered to himself, “I came here to talk. I didn’t come here to listen.” He was mad because people weren’t listening to him. They moved away from him, drawn to the other speaker. He felt appointed a talked not a listener. But the crowd thought differently.
We communicate only when people listen. And unless people follow us, we’re not leaders.
Often leaders don’t have the title. In a manufacturing plant, I’ve known many leaders of employees who were not in management, nor did they have a union job. But by the very weight of their personality and experience, they had authority. They were natural leaders.
The major characteristic of a leader in an organization is the ability to turn subordinates into followers. People can be subordinates by definition – by placement on an organization chart, or membership roll. But they alone decide to be followers.
This week carefully consider: 1) How would I define leader? 2) What is my most satisfactory leadership experience? 3) Who would benefit from Fred’s words?
Words of Wisdom: “Unless people follow us, we are not leaders.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor.” (1 Timothy 5:17(a) NET Bible)