"true leaders have followers"
Guest post from: Mary Jo Asmus, www.aspire-cs.com
Most businesses are structured and controlled. There are processes to follow, strategies to set in motion, and bureaucracy to wade through. This structure can give us a false sense of control about the other stuff in our workplaces. Make no mistake. People cannot be controlled; in fact, they are downright unpredictable and messy, for a lot of very wonderful reasons. Leading people can be messy too.
When I work with my clients on new behaviors that will help them to impact and influence their workplaces, they can often get a false sense of the control that they are wielding over their employees. “Well, if I do this, then they will do that”, as in “If I become more inclusive and empowering, they will do what I want”. It’s really not likely that you can predict precisely what others will do when you change how you manage and lead them..
Leadership is an art
Max DePree, in his classic leadership book, had it right when he called leadership an art. People will not do what you want (exactly), they will do what they want (sort of) based on their strengths, gaps, skills, personality, the weather, the culture, their personal issues, their professional issues, what they think of you, what drives them, how they interpret the mission, what filters they turn on when you provide direction, how they feel, and what they had for lunch.
Whew. That is a lot to get in the way of having control over others. And it’s only the tip of the iceberg of the things that can effect a person’s ability to complete the work they way you want it completed.
Be willing to be surprised
So when you are making the changes in your behavior, you also have to be willing to be surprised and delighted. Let go of the belief that you have control over how others get things done. Rest assured that those who are inspired and motivated will do it their way – and their way may turn out to be amazing. Ask yourself instead:
* What new strengths do I see emerging in my team?
* Who is “flowering” under my new belief and willingness to let go of control?
* Who requires more guidance? How will I coach them?
* What is surprising me here? What is delighting me?
For all of their messiness, people sure can be amazing.
How are you growing in your leadership? What changes are you making in your behavior?
