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Follow, Then Lead
So many people think that they can lead, or manage other people. Too many of those people never learned how to follow first. You must have the experience of placing yourself under the authority of another before you can begin to lead people.
Leadership is not akin to being the master over people and barking orders at them. Even in the military, an officer begins basic training in "boot" camp under the authority of a drill instructor. An officer is brought down to a humble place just as an enlisted person is. A future officer receives the same instruction because the only way to lead another person successfully is to know what one is leading them toward, and how one gets to that point.
To be a follower, we need to be able to take orders, ideas, criticism, and all forms of direction. For those of us who have held leadership roles in business and other organizations, that is not always easy.
Leading a brainstorming session can be one of the most difficult functions for a leader. As the leader of many meetings, I have had to sit quietly without screaming in terror at some of the ideas put forth. I have to listen to every idea because if someone is criticized for his or her comments, other attendees may not speak out. That is how great ideas are lost, or worse, given to the competition.
It is difficult to submit to another person's authority when you are the boss. You have to do it before you can lead the group in reaching their objectives. Try enlisting someone as your accountability partner in the meeting. Develop agreed upon signals for the "shut up and listen" time. It really works.
More to follow!
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