Leadership

Just wow! Chris Byrne writing at The Anarchangel had been hinting about an essay he was writing. It showed up yesterday and it is a wonderful read:

Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way.
Leadership is a very unusual subject. Thousands of books have been written on it. Millions of speeches and talks have been given about it.

..BUT...

Leadership is one of those funny subjects that must be learned, but can't be taught.

Oh there are many elements of leadership that can be taught: techniques, technologies, aids, processes etc... but those aren't leadership, they are its accoutrement (some are critical certainly, but they don't make a leader).

Leadership must be learned; but it cannot be taught. It can only be discovered from within, by each individual. Except in a few rare cases (yes, some really are just natural leaders), leadership only appears when it is needed critically. When someone is tested, and must rise to the occasion. It must then be developed, and refined, or it is wasted.

Unfortunately, we have spent the last hundred years removing those tests that bring leaders to the front, out of our societies. At the same time, we have been removing the structures that nurtured leadership, and allowed it to grow and flourish.

Is it any surprise we have so many "managers" but so few leaders?

Leaders solve problems, with people.

Chris also took a look at management a few years ago. Check out Managing Cynicism Wonderful writing and absolutely spot on in his observations...