“Leadership happens whether we know it or not!”
Dear Leader,
While sitting in the car one morning, waiting for my granddaughter to leave for school, I ask her what she thought leadership is.
“I don’t know. Someone in the lead. Someone with followers.”, she insightfully, albeit non-committedly, offered.
After realising my error in being a littel too vague, and a brief moment of self-chastisement for getting exactly what I asked for, I sharpened my enquiry:
“Okay, so what do you think makes a good leader?
“Someone smarter, stronger. Has something the others do not.”
Ah! This was more like it.
“So…” I pursued, “have you ever been a leader?”
“No. Well, perhaps to my brother.”
“What about school? With your firends: does anyone take the lead?”
“Not really.”
“Really? No one has more influence than the others?”
“Well, only when playing games, otherwise we all do what we want.”
She then elaborated on a complicated scene of play-ground dynamics from among her friend circle. Evidently, each had a specific skill-set that leant to each one taking the lead in specific situations at defined times depending on scenario and circumstance – usually centered around what game was being played.
This was interesting! Her social-circle – and bear in mind that we are talking 14 year-old girls here – were exhibiting a perfect form of subconscious situational leadership.
It was evident, at least from her perspective, that leadership was not considered as an assigned activity or output but that it naturally evolved through the group’s activities and needs.
Leadership is everywhere!
Even when we do not know it or do not realis it, it just happens.
There seems to be an existence of what I might term “micro-leadership” – a restricted requirement refined to a single, defined activity – and “nano-leadership – limited to a specific definite time – that permeates everyday life and is revealed through every action that involves others. Once completed, the lead is handed over to the next best suited for the next endeavour.
Many groups, therefore, appear to embrace a kind of “team-leadership” as opposed to having a nominated “team-leader”.
Note to Self!
If leadership is just going to happen, whether we like it or not, realise it or not, then we should make sure that we have the capability and skill set to make the most of it when it does – or is demanded.
If those skill sets are imbedded successfully, they will flow naturally, subconsciously, without even the need to realise that we are doing it.
Let’s face it: if we do not take the lead, evidently someone will – for whatever period of time, or for whatever required action. We should not just hope that the best suited takes the lead, we need to ensure that we are the best suited to take the lead: so, we need to be ready to step up and stand out.
Living Life, Learning Lessons!
Live | Learn | Lead
