Are you a leader or a follower?
Unfortunately, I was born to be a leader. Don’t get me wrong, I am a good leader. Some might disagree. But for the most part, I have led, fairly, equitably, and strategically. I have a way of seeing the big picture while also being able to operationalize the vision. I also have enjoyed being a leader. I do get a lot mentally out of leading a team. It invogorates and energizes me.
Why, then, did I start by saying, unfortunately? Being a leader doesn’t bring many good friends. You often have to worry about politics and playing chess. While it is invigorating to lead, it can also be draining. And, that work/life balance a lot of people like to talk about and encourage, doesn’t always apply to a leader. For many, it is often inconceivable to consider that a leader may turn off their phone for a bit.
Yet, I wouldn’t want to stop being a leader. My DNA would not allow me to be something else. At least, for today. At least for now. Tomorrow or in the future, paths may change. And, that is what I am trying to get myself to come to terms with.
Categories: Culture, identity, Leadership, Management, mental health, Psychology, work
I failed the DNA lottery. I’m not a leader and my tolerance for following is limited. It isn’t a condition the world is kind to.
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SMiLes Dear Miriam i’m Neither Follower or Leader
i’M A GArdener of Weeds i am Free Yet oh Dear Lord
That Didn’t Stop the Folks Around me AT Work FOR
PUSHING ME TO THE
VERY TOP FALLinG
It’s More Fun Watering
The Top of the Pyramid
From The Base And
Fading Away
Like i
Never
Existed At All…
Except of Course for A
‘Nine Dimensional’
ChessHire
SMiLe…
he
He…
Other Than ‘That Cat’
i Am A Weed i AM Rather
iNVaSiVE WeaRinG Many
Free CoLoRS oF FLoWeRS…
Other Than That Society Requires
Servant Leaders Who Are Compassionate
And Empathetic to Lead Same With Followers
You Seem Like A Good
Leader to me
i
Like That
Other Wise
Humans Fall
Apart Face Palms
Thick Wonder What
That Would Look Like As A Watcher…
(Oh Dear What A Sad Rhetorical Question)
Or Ever Day Participant Anthropology
Observer…
Writing A
Poem
Too Just
For Puns of Fun…
Yep It’s True i Am
Heaven Dweller Now
in The Garden of myself
This Field of Dreams i Build…
It’s Shaped More Like A Tsunami
Than Golden Pyramid Or the ASTeRoiD That Came First
After 66 MiLLioN Years or 66 Months Time is of no Import…
WHeRE
i Am From
Staycationing New..:)
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I have been both a follower and a leader and don’t like being either.
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Is there a third path? It seems everyone wants to lead others, when they frequently don’t know where they are going. Is it an asset to lead others into dangerous or untenable positions?
I tend to be neither leader nor follower. I’m an adventurer, seeking my own path, reluctant to entangle others in my unpredictable experiences.
While I appreciate the benefits of teamwork, and know much we rely on today, such as modern technology, resulted from the willing or unwilling cooperation of large groups of people, I’m an avoider of the conflicts generated by political vying for supremacy.
Historically, leadership is associated with war and conquest. I’ve been reading about the empires of the past, in which the remembered “leaders” were warriors who captured or regained agricultural or resource-rich land, seaports, or slaves (as Julius Caesar did) for their groups.
Leaders need followers, but followers have their own motives for following. Each fulfills a purpose and deserves appreciation and respect.
Perhaps the best “leaders” are the problem solvers, who can build bridges of cooperation between conflictual groups to achieve shared objectives.
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There os a third path, that of being a loner, who goes her own way.
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