Leader or Manager. Which Are You?...

If you were to provide a quick response to the above question, what would your answer be? Do you know the difference? Do I know the difference? A good place to start is for me to answer this question. I can see over the years I have been both, which has served and been a detriment to me at the same time. There are times I should have led when I should have followed and managed when I should have been managed. This brings up a key question that need to be examined. What is the difference between the two and how could this 'knowing' effect my future actions, relationships and outcomes to situations and events? I think the answer lays in self-management, not with others. If a person will self manage themselves they are then able to lead. Managing others only leads to co-dependency because others will always fall back to you to help them manage what they choose to not manage themselves. This then makes you feel responsible to others success or failure. On the other hand, if you take sovereignty back (being totally responsible for yourself) and lead from this authority of self others will want to follow or be around you for this energy. Then they will want to do the same, start to leading, following your example, being responsible for self. You then can allow / follow (as a great leader) the leaders around you put their own 'footprint' on matters that are theirs to own and operate. You then do only what is proper as your own leader of self tending to the details (management) that are your own, self management. I believe a great self manager is a great leader to the world. Go out and self manage yourself today, okay? You will become a great leader in your home, community, business and nation. You will find many thing in your environment change because of your change in thinking. Surprise yourself. Go be a great leader...
Until my next leading WebLog...

Lead or Follow But Get Out of the Gray...

It is a paradox that a true real leader knows how and when to follow as well as lead. It then stands to reason that a high degree of intellect and coherent emotion are working very well together to make a quick assessment of which is proper action at any given moment. I saw a great example of this watching Trumps 'Apprentice' last night. Amarosa was team leader on the losing team. They were required to come up with a highly creative, branded window dressing at a department store showcasing enjoying laying in bed(for a mattress company). Their team decided to do a traditional wedding scene with the happy couple parading around the bed in delight, while the winning team(from the men) came up with Cleopata and her 'king' in rich lounging attire, being served wine, etc. by a servant with cellphones, laptops at their side, merging the old with the new. One of Amarosa's teammates(the Hollywood Guru) was 'fired' in the boardroom for apparently not having enough 'creativity' to aid with the right decision to make this event highly special and unique for the judges, and therefore following her 'leaders' decision. Amarosa said in the boardroom she thought they asked all the right questions and fully understood what was right for the task. One of the members on Amarosa's team made the following comment while preparing their showcase window- 'When someone's impassioned with their vision, they inspire people to follow them'. She believed their 'leader' was right on the money and they would win the task! She followed without using critical thinking. She made an assumption that following the 'leaders' path would naturally attain success. And they lost and she got fired!
I think one of the most critical attributes of a true leader is to quickly assess the truth of a given situation, and act quickly with all the displays of courage and boldness needed to see it through the right way. They would not follow the 'pack' with the assumption everything is okay. I think "when everything is just okay, you're living in the gray". Get smart quick, know when to lead, know when to follow, and always stay out of the gray...
Have a great day everyone. Until the next WebLog...