Lead Wherever You Are

I’m not sure that it is possible to write a complete comprehensive treatise on leadership.  There certainly seems to be any number of experts out there on how to become and be a leader.  Most of those experts take the view however that at any given point in time within any group that only one chief leader position exists.  For a quite a number of years now, I have been of an opposing opinion.  In fact, I believe that the strongest team to be assembled is a team of leaders.  I have long been a proponent of not only situational leadership, but especially, leading wherever you are.

Of a team of leaders, there may be a captain or even two co-captains, and any number of situational leaders, and each member of the team will lead in their own expertise, by example, by giving emotional support, by supporting the efforts of the team wholeheartedly, and by stepping in, anytime, and anyplace they, or their skills, are needed, including their leadership skills. 

If you grew up in the late sixties and early seventies, of the Vietnam era, then you are familiar with what is perhaps the most famous tag line of wisdom of the times.  “If you can’t be with the one you love, then love the one you’re with.”, was a line often used by a musician of the times, Billy Preston.  Stephen Stills, asked to use the line to write a song, to which Preston readily agreed.  The rest is musical and cultural history.  The tag line, and song title though, "Love the One You're With", was the basic background inspiration for the concept of Lead Wherever You Are.  Only when everyone leads wherever they are, is an organization truly excelling at its fullest potential. 

In the organization that excels, the CEO, upper management, lower management, general workers,  the janitor, and even middle management, leads.  Yes, everyone in the entire organization leads wherever they are, in their area of responsibility, and any other place that they aren’t prohibited. 

There are always opportunities to lead within your own area without infringing on others.  Everyone can lead by example.  Everyone can lead by setting a pace with urgency.  Everyone can lead by encouraging and expressing a positive attitude.  Everyone can lead by continuously aspiring to a standard of excellence.  Everyone can lead in times of distress, in times of joy, in times of sorrow, in times of despair, in times of great progress, and in times when momentum is most needed.  Everyone has the potential to lead wherever they are.

I once read a tiny book by Ken Roberts titled Rich Man’s Secret.  It’s not on the list of select seven books that I have mentioned in this blog several times, but it does have sound principles between its few pages.  One of them is the idea that one way to improve a process is to teach it.  Roberts espouses the great benefits gained through preparing for and teaching a process.  He even recommends that if you don’t have anyone to teach, that you teach an imaginary companion on the job, or while engaging in the  process you wish to improve and master.  I’ve tried this and found that it causes me to question everything when I have to teach the totality of a process.  Just try it.  Even when you have to play both student and teacher, it works.

If you try the imaginary student technique, you will find yourself covering who does what, when, where, and why, and how they do it.  Most likely you will discover improvements along the way, or at least come to better understand the process with a new thoroughness that recognizes all the interdependent components and intricacies.  Before long, you will find, you leading you.  I guess that’s what’s meant by "an army of one"; being alone and leading right where you are, with who you’re with.  

There are many kinds of leadership, with many styles and more places to lead than there are leaders.  Your leadership is needed.  So where do you start to build your leadership skills?  Start right where you are, wherever you are.  The consummate leader is always adapting, and learning, and polishing their skills.   The formula for becoming a consummate leader is simple.  Always, lead wherever you are.   Remember Lee Iacoca's leadership philosophy, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way?"  Well, don't get in your own way. You can even lead yourself out of procrastination, if you will just try.

Become a good follower to become a good leader.  Good leaders also make the best followers.  So whether you are following or leading, you can, and should, still know what you need to do.  Lead wherever you are.

Surround yourself with people who love you, work that you love, and a cause that you believe in.

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