I often hear groans from some of my colleagues when we are in conversation.

Their (regular) usage of a specific word triggers me to interject when they are talking…

…which creates an ‘oh no, there he goes again…’ moment 🙂

This post is sort of an apology for me being me…and yet, clearly, it’s not!

This is in no way to blame those that trigger me. The problem (as I see it) is that an important concept has become sooo bastardised in ‘modern’ organisations that it has become ‘how we all speak’. We don’t even notice. I regularly fall in the hole myself.

And the word? Leader!

Ah yes, some regular readers will reflect that I’ve written about this before¹ (#brokenrecord).

We hear/say things along the lines of:

“We’ve got to get our leader(s) onboard”

“We’ve got to open our leader(s) eyes as to what they can’t see”

“We need to keep our leader(s) happy/onside”

“We need to get some time with our leader(s)”

And, perhaps the most f$cked up and oxymoronic:

“We’ve got to protect ourselves from our leader(s)” [or words to that effect, with an undercurrent of fear]

NONE of the above is about leadership. In fact, quite the opposite – each of those lines is referring to attempts at managing people with POWER (usually via the authority vested in their role).

Let’s get back to basics about what the word ‘leader’ actually means.

Here’s a wonderful clarification from Dee Hock:

“Leader presumes follower. Follower presumes choice.

One who is coerced to the purposes, objectives, or preferences of another is not a follower in any true sense of the word, but an object of manipulation. Nor is the relationship materially altered if both parties accept the dominance and coercion.

The terms ‘leader’ and ‘follower’ imply the continual freedom and independent judgement of both. A true leader cannot be bound to lead. A true follower cannot be bound to follow. The moment they are bound, they are no longer leader or follower.

If the behaviour of either is compelled, whether by force, economic necessity, or contractual arrangement, the relationship is altered to one of superior/ subordinate, manager/ employee, master/ servant, or owner/slave. All such relationships are materially different than leader/follower.”

He goes on to write:

Educed² behaviour is the essence of leader/ follower. Compelled behaviour is the essence of all the others. Where behaviour is compelled, there lies tyranny, however petty. Where behaviour is educed, there lies leadership, however powerful.”

 An important clarification:

Nothing within Hock’s words say that we shouldn’t have structure within organisations, with people performing various roles within….but we need to get over/ past this huge mistake of labelling a hierarchically ‘senior’ person as a leader.

Sure, they may be your manager, your director, your executive (name any other role) but whether they are leading you is 100% determined by whether you wish to follow.

A reminder that anyone is leading when someone is choosing to follow them, no matter what (potentially lowly) ‘rank’ they hold.

So, what’s your leadership role within any organisation that you reside?

Here’s a nice line from Hock to reflect upon:

“Lead yourself, lead your ‘superiors’³, lead your peers, employ good people, and free them to do the same. All else is trivia.”

You will hopefully note that he deliberately leaves out ‘lead your subordinates’…because that’s not in your gift. Sure, you should be trying your hardest to fulfil your role but those you employ will choose if (and when⁴) you are leading them…whether you like this or not!

I hope it is rather obvious from the above that telling someone you are their leader is absurd⁵.

How curious that ‘modern’ organisations get it completely back to front.

Footnotes:

1. Previous posts re. leadership: (1) The notion of leadership; (2) Are you a Lady?

2. Educe – to bring or draw forth something already present in a latent, or underdeveloped form.

3. ‘Superiors’ i.e. those with power and authority ‘over’ you…which, I hope you understand from everything I’ve written on the subject, does not translate to making them your leaders!!!

4. The ‘when’: Leading isn’t a constant! Sometimes people will choose to follow, sometimes not.

5. Game of thrones: A colleague nicely referenced a scene with the wonderful words “Any man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king.” (Thanks Christian). This fits so well with the above.