Are you trying to lead without knowing how to follow? How’s it working for you?
My first job out of college was as a receptionist for a major nationwide van line. I believe I was timid in my new role for about the first week. After that, I was certain that I knew it all and could run the company myself.During my annual review that first year, the General Manager’s primary criticism of my work was that I was too eager to “drive the bus.” He said, “Your job is to complete tasks on the bus as I ask you to. It’s not to navigate; that’s the Office Manager’s job. It’s not to do maintenance; that’s the Fleet Manager’s job. Driving the bus is my job.”
Naturally, I went home from that review and did what any good colonel’s daughter would do… I called Daddy to whine. Dad promptly informed me that the General Manager was absolutely right. He said, “If you want to be a leader, kid. You have to prove worthy of it. You have to be willing to follow before you can lead.” Then, he encouraged me to learn how to lead by first learning how to follow. I could be a leader among my co-workers by being the first to step up and work harder, by being supportive of my boss when no one else seemed to be, and by helping encourage my co-workers to run a little harder to hit our goals.
More than that, Dad explained, it was important for me to understand that, even when I have a leadership title and think I’m the boss, I will always be answering to someone. My General Manager answered to the Regional Vice President. The CEO of a company answers to the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest position in the United States Armed Forces, answers to the Commander in Chief. Even when I began my own business, I realized that although I work for myself, I answer to my clients and my audiences – or I don’t get booked and hired again!
Before we can lead, we have to be willing to follow. Furthermore, we have to learn how to be a good follower, respecting authority and adhering to someone else’s policies and procedures. We have to be willing to sit at the feet of great leaders and learn from them. We have to put in our time and do the practice it takes to earn responsibility. We have to earn the right to lead.
Read Lauren’s Whitepaper on The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership.
