Sunday, May 6, 2018

A633.7.3.RB - Leader Follower Relationship


Has your thinking changed over the course of the past six weeks, if so; why, and, if not; why?
            In the past 6 weeks I have grown in the understanding of what it takes to be a leader. I have held the distinction of management and a leader to be different. The leader needs to be the example and the manager needs to make the right decision. Throughout the last 6 weeks I have only deepened my distinction that a manager can’t be a leader. The decisions between a leader and manager were too distinct. For example, a leader is in the muck and mire, while the manager was leading the team on and making the decision on where to go. Through leadership, my outlook has changed.
            Leadership is more about the combination of corporate decisions while empowering the employees. Leadership is the tough decision on corporate direction and making it work through the employees. A manager doesn’t have to be a dictator but needs to empower employees through being a leader. There is a distinct line where leadership needs to make the manager/leader decision and make the counterpart work in conjunction. For example, if a manager thinks a new program is best for the organization, then the leader side needs to tell the employees how it will work and sell them on the idea even though it will be hard. Finally, leadership will be getting the employees to a level 5 followership.  
What is the significance of this assessment in the context of your future leadership goals and objectives?
            My future leadership goals is development. I think that a leader should never stop trying to develop. This does not mean only trying new tactics or psychology, but also developing myself to see that I have to change in order to have good leadership. If a leader is not willing to change first, how can they expect followership.
            One of my main objectives is to control the conversation without emotions. A lot of leadership is tell and sell, not only to followers but other managers. If another manager won’t listen to reason of sell, then telling won’t work. Leadership is about empowering those other managers to work with you. Seeing the other side of the coin is another way to sell the idea, putting yourself in their shoes. Through leadership, I need to sell and tell not let my emptions rule the conversation.
“Many people see leadership as a position, and with any leadership position there must be followers” (Waters,2014). Leadership is not about position or entitlement for employees to follow. Leadership is about making followership. If people don’t want to follow you then you are managing, if you have followers but go against the betterment of the organization than you are leading without representation. It is easy to lead a rebellion, leadership is leading the organization in mind.

References:

Waters, Chris. “THE 3 BASIC LEADERSHIP OBJECTIVES.” LinkedIn, 26 Sept. 2014, www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140926111139-35845630-the-3-basic-objectives-of-a-leader.

Obolensky, Nick. Complex Adaptive Leadership: Embracing Paradox and Uncertainty. Gower, 2014.
           


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