Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way
April 18th, 2007 by Richard CockrumLead, follow, or get out of the way.
We’ve all heard it.
Many of us have said it.
Think about it. Leaders are created by the followers. It’s the people who get out of the way that actually go somewhere new.
Then, someday, they may be called leaders.
Are you leading, following, or going your own way?
Technorati Tags: creativity, leadership, self-direction, goals, personal development
Popularity: 16% [?]
Del.icio.us
reddit
April 18th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I make my own way or at least attempt to. We need a new leader for sure to come out of the shadows of the people.
Be well and enjoy the day
April 18th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Very thoughtful.
I’d say leadership is about going your own way, but it isn’t selfish. A real leader cares about other people.
So i’d say ‘go you own way’ but care for others on your journey.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Hi Danielle,
Attempting to make our own way is the best we can do. Very few of us are not affected by our circle and our culture. The hard part is being aware of the effect.
Keep the music coming. Someday I hope to be able to recognize some of the lyrics.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Hey Steve,
Thank you.
There’s selfish, and then there’s selfish. I would have a hard time trusting someone who said they weren’t doing something because they thought it was the best thing to do given the circumstances. They’re either lying, unconscious, or will become resentful.
I may be flailing at ghosts, but I think we would all be better off it we admitted we were selfish. That doesn’t preclude concern for others. In a way, it demands it. Very few of us would do well in a cave or on an island alone. I’m right there with you about caring for others on the way.
I’m not a leader. I don’t trust people who want to be leaders. They generally want to tell other people what to do. Followers, by definition, want to be told what to do, either outright or by example. The real creative work, whether it be in the arts, science, or human relationships, is done by neither of these.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:09 am
I think you are right about selfishness… We are all selfish and that’s why capitalism has outperformed other economic systems.
But about leadership and going your own way…
What I meant was that… I’ve had friends that went their own way (I’ve done this too)… and they didn’t think about providing value to other people, either in their work or personal relationships and it resulted in isolation and addiction. An unpleasant place to be. But caring for others while going your own way will bring out the best for you and everyone around you.