Leadership…
given not taken
As I settle back into life at home after attending the International Leadership Association meeting last month I’m thinking more than usual about leadership.
I’m uncomfortable when I’m described as a leader - that’s not how I think of myself. But it’s a label that’s been applied to me a few times lately: “ever met a leader who changed the way you see work?”… “Dr Ruth Sims is an outstanding leadership expert whose PhD research on followership offers valuable insights that challenge and inspire.” I’m blushing!!
Why the discomfort?
In part it’s because leadership itself is overemphasised and wrongly applied. We tend to applaud “leadership” when people who have positional power or authority simply behave as good humans. I don’t tend to be overly impressed by someone’s title or position. This has sometimes been a problem as I don’t have a poker face either. I’m also uncomfortable with the idea that leaders claim leadership. Leadership is always granted by those who choose to follow. If you are the only one saying “I’m a leader” you aren’t!
My interest is very much on what else is going on while some folk are (for the moment at least) leading. I think leadership and followership are mutually influential and we all do both moving between leading and following. As I wrote with Frankie Weinberg
The best leaders know when to lead and when to follow; furthermore, the best followers know when to follow and when to lead (Sims & Weinberg 2024, p. 343).
Effective followership is important. It’s a key component of the leadership relationship and process to get things done. That’s a truth that I’m committed to sharing and if that makes me a slightly uncomfortable followership leader so be it.