Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way

When I was in high school this was painted across a wall in the gym. Some say it came from General Patton, others attibute a little less aggressive version of it to the founding father Thomas Paine. Regardless of its source, each element of it always resonated with me.

Lead. We often think of leadership as structural. There are people in leadership roles, executives, senior managers, owners, politicians, coaches etc. But we are all called to lead in various aspects of our lives. Leadership is simply about influence. If we influence others we lead. In any given moment, in any given organization, on any given team, any individual may have to step up and lead.

As I was growing up as a leader in an entrepreneurial company that I was a partner in, I would reflect on how often we had to step forward in front of clients and/or our employees and lead on very challenging topics and issues. Often these were situations where we were wholly unprepared and ill-equipped, and unqualified. The thought that would always occur to me though was "if not us, if not me, then who?" Someone has to step forward and there was often no one else to look to. And I think that applies to every one of us in some context of our lives. The courage to step forward is itself an act of leadership. Whether it's to be the first to share a reaction or start a dialogue, to take an action or simply say yes, to step up in front of the white board or in front of the group, to be vulnerable with a viewpoint that isn't fully developed knowing you are a catalyst for further discussion…these are all a form of leadership and every single person is faced with these leadership opportunities regularly.

Follow. And yet we are all called to follow also. We are all influenced by others. Sometimes the best thing we can do is get behind another leader, support their message, endorse them through our actions, our behaviors and our encouragement, become a force multiplier for those who are paving a way in front of us. Followership is not a passive act, it is an action. It implies commitment, alignment, choice to amplify a message, bring energy, contribute additional influence, bring faith and conviction. Followership is what makes a team vibrant and passionate and forceful. Strong followers make strong leaders. And in the dynamic between leading and following we are often iterating through both roles, sometimes stepping in front so others can draft off us, sometimes falling back and following the path that others are setting even when we are unsure where it's going.

Get out of the way. And sometimes the right move is to simply step aside and give space to others. There are teams or groups or organizations or individuals who need the space to lead and/or follow and in some situations the worst thing we can do is inhibit it. When we show up with biased views or preconceived ways of how things have to be done or barriers or restrictions or rules or policies or fears that restrict the work of others, we are often just in the way, blocking potential and possibility. We sometimes do this as leaders, restricting the growth of others on our teams; we also sometimes unwittingly do it as colleagues - as naysayers or resistors to the work that is happening around us.  If we're not actively leading towards something or following someone who's going there, the best thing we can often do is get the hell out of the way. Done right, this is neither a cop our nor an act of apathy. Rather it's a choice to believe in others and to contribute by removing oneself as an obstacle. We are all called to do this in different aspects of our lives as well - whether that's in raising children and giving them the space to grow, transitioning leadership to others, encouraging new groups that we're not actively engaged in, or simply cheering on others as they make their way.

The point is that sometimes leadership isn't just about leading. Simply knowing when to lead, when to follow and when to create space for others can be as important as anything we actively do. Next time you find yourself or your organization facing a new challenge, consider your role and how you can best serve.

"Points of Impact" is a publication expressing thoughts on how we might approach our work differently to have a better impact on others and the world. For more related perspectives, check out the book Impact with Love: Building Business for a Better World - now available on Audible!