A lot of water cooler conversation at work is around the topic of bosses. There is something wrong with all of them… at least in the eyes of most. Complaining is part of sharpening our filtering skills to sort out right from wrong and reaches its highest form when we are confident enough to bitch about things to our colleagues. There are differences in that conversation depending on which floor of the building it happens to take place. The primary difference between downstairs in the galley and in the executive penthouse (other than the correctness of the spelling of graffiti on the rest room walls) is that there is a frustration about the inability to change things on one level and the terrifying realization that things need to be changed on the other. HR is a catalyst for change on all floors and must be a fountain of information on leadership and how to do it. Here are a three articles from the archives in which the question of leadership is addressed. Posting comments to this summary, whether in agreement or disagreement, contributes to our common knowledge. Even if there is no motivation to write a comment, at least talk about it to somebody next week. It’s important!
Lead, Follow or Get Out Of The Way – A memorable piece of my life is still tucked away in Fort Benning, GA. There was a statue in front of Infantry Hall carrying the label “Follow Me†which we lovingly called “Iron Mike†for some reason I never knew. It shows a World War II infantry soldier with an upraised arm motioning for those around him to follow him into battle. His courage and unquestioned leadership is forever frozen in bronze not just as a memorial to those who have gone before, but also as an inspiration to all who stop long enough to study and understand this icon. – more –
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Power, Authority, Impact and Influence – Leadership works because it is taught to those who would be in charge and there are not any courses given for followership. From universities to the military, the topic of how to lead has been dissected, defined, detailed and decrypted ad nauseam. I know what it means to lead. You know what it means to lead. There is a high probability that my concept of leadership and yours are entirely different. When asked how to know that someone is a leader, it often results in an answer of the nature that “I don’t know, but I know it when I see it.†– more –Â
Making Leadership Memories – Reflection on past jobs, past bosses and past relationships shines a spotlight on the stage from which we live out our lives. Using what is referred to commonly as “20/20 Hindsight†we profit from mistakes and move on. Seldom do we in the moment think that we are making memories. We are only experiencing the present and memories are to be formed somewhere in the future. – more –