POWER TEST

"Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

Margaret Thatcher, 20th century British politician.

True no matter what level of authority you think you find yourself at, and if you think otherwise, you're not at whatever level of authority you thought you were.

WHY NOT YOU FIRST?

"I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?"

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) British politician/author.

Depends on why you're following.

You are if by "follow" you mean leading them to where they wish to be, where they are capable of going.

You are not if you "follow" because you don't want to do what you insist they do.

IF YOU WANT TO LEAD . . .

"Follow the crowd and you will never be followed by a crowd."

Unknown

Ok but at least understand what the crowd thinks, where it intends to go.

Not doing that is another reason you will never be followed.

BUSINESS WITHOUT LEADERSHIP? OUT OF BUSINESS

"Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes."

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) German writer.

True for leaders as well as heroes.

However, whereas most heroes are proclaimed a hero after actually doing something heroic, many "leaders" are put in positions of leadership without having demonstrated leadership ability.

Being in a position of leadership does not necessarily mean you are leading.

It only means you were suppose to lead.

And if you don't lead you won't not lead for long.

You, the company, very possibly both, won't survive.

2ND IS SOMETIMES BEST

"But it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation."

Herman Melville (1819-1891) American writer.

Depends on how you define "originality" and particularly "imitation".

In business, being a close follower, eliminating mistakes of those whose first-to-market product was good but not great, is a tried and true strategy for success. 

(TEMPORARILY) IN CHARGE

"One leader, one people, signifies one master and millions of slaves."

Albert Camus (1913-1960) French novelist/essayist/dramatist

Dramatists, such as Mr. Camas, are expected to be dramatic; it's what they do.

But his sentiment is not overly dramatic.

You may be the CEO, however if you lead as though you are the sole power, you won't be for long.

REST IN PEACE

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

Nelson Mandela

20th century anti apartheid revolutionary/President of South Africa

He taught us all including those who refused to learn.

In so many ways, one of the great leaders of the 20th century.

WHICH ONES WHEN?

"Every good servant does not all commands."

William Shakespeare 

Late 16th/early 17th century British poet/playwright

If you are just beginning your business career you are likely saying, "Hah! I knew that."

If you are farther along, with employees reporting to you, you might be saying, "True, but do all my commands."

And if you are at or near the end of your career your reaction might be, "Yes, but the hard part is knowing which ones when."

WHY YOU BELIEVE, OR DON'T

"It is so hard to believe because it is so hard to obey."

Soren Kierkegaard

19th century Danish philosopher and writer

Remember this the next time you find it hard to accept a point of view other than your own.

Walk The Walk, Certainly, But Whose Walk?

"A leader has been defined as one who knows, the way, shows the way, and goes the way."

Unknown

Ok, while simplistically corny I get and accept the core idea.

Sort of a walk the walk sentiment.

But a leader must also be open to being led to what he or she should know, show, and go to.

No one knows it all.

Made Of Sterner Stuff?

"Such as we are made of, such we be."

William Shakespeare

16th century English poet/playwright

In business as in our personal lives, just as true for our companies as ourselves.

Awakening Minds

"I am not a teacher but an awakener."

Robert Frost

20th century American poet

Mr. Frost created new thinking that never would have existed were it not for his poetry.

What do you think?

The essence of good management?

Wisemen and Wiseguys

"A wise man's questions contain half the answers."

Solomon Ibn Gabirol

11th century Hebrew poet/Jewish philosopher

And you know those wise men when you meet them.

They have a way of getting you to answer the questions they ask, and in retrospect, you kind of know they weren't asking because they didn't know.

Those are the managers I want to work for.

Coyote Insight, LLC

When In The Eye Of The Storm

"The first thing a great person does is make us realize the insignificance of circumstance."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

19th century American poet

In business great leaders make it possible for otherwise average employees to do great things regardless of how tumultuous things may seem.

Can You Be Both Effective And Liked?

"Good nature is worth more than knowledge, more than money, more than honor, to the persons who possess it."

Henry Ward Beecher

19th century American politician

As it relates to management, what is "good nature"?  

A lack of anger, maybe being liked by many if not all?  

Can a business leader in difficult times, both achieve expected results AND be seen as "good natured"?

Does "good nature" relate to management?

So, How'd That Work Out For You?

"In politics . . . never retreat, never retract . . . never admit a mistake."

Napoleon Bonaparte

18th century French General

On this election day in the US I thought it appropriate to include a political quote, one I believe with a message to business people as well.

However not sure this is the best advice in that Napoleon died three years after being imprisoned and exiled to the island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, 2,000 KM from any land mass, for what even he recognized as his intractable leadership style.

Memo to US politicians:   Take heed, there's room on the boat.

Are You Ahead Or Behind?

"Efficiency tends to deal with things, effectiveness with people.  We manage things, we lead people."

Source Unknown

This quote is saved by the use of the word "tends" because what is and is not efficient and effective varies by situation.  But the overall thought is valid.

If you are in charge, are you leading or herding?  

In the former you have followers, the latter it's you who follows.

Leadership When It Counts

"Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm."

Swedish proverb

The rough economic "waters" we've just been through, in fact, still are in to a point, proved that repeatedly.

What can a board do to determine a candidate CEO's potential to lead during difficult times?

The Importance of Clear Directions

"For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"

Bible
King James Version, 1 Corinthians 14:8

Will you follow a leader when he or her does not sound as though they know where they want to go?

Follow Me, I'll Follow You

"Followership, like leadership, is a role not a destination."

Michael McKinney
Commentator

A role we all should know when and how to play no matter our position within an organization.

Nowhere is it written that leaders do not also need to be followers.

In fact, knowing when to follow may well be the most important requirement of an effective leader.