What makes a good leader
Every group has a purpose - some goal to achieve, an outcome to reach. Members work together to reach that goal, each according to their position and abilities. They develop, increasing their knowledge and strengths, as they learn and grow to fit the needs of the group. Family members start as children, unlearned and dependent. In time, they become adults who contribute skills and guidance to the group. Finally, to become the elders who share their wisdom and knowledge, molding the journey along the way. Each stage of development is directed by the common goal of furthering the family - accumulating wealth, experiences, and opportunities for all.
Corporations are no different. New hires become supervisors who manage departments and eventually join a board of directors all with their common goal in mind. Leadership is that quality in each member of the group which teaches, nourishes, and inspires development in the other members, as they strive toward their collective goal.
One of my favorite examples of a good leadership style is how a wolf pack organizes during long migrations. The old and the young occupy the central position where the older wolves can prepare the young for the future. A few of the strongest wolves are in front of the pack. The rest of the strong bring up the rear.
As the young wolves in the core learn and grow, they move out through the ranks to become teachers to the next generation. They have made the journey before. They have grown strong and wise through their experiences and now guide others toward good hunting grounds and water sources. The wisdom of such a style is undeniable. The focus is on the development of individual members to drive the group’s progress.
Wolf biologists continue to debate the exact hierarchy of the pack. But, if we look rather at the ideal this example represents, we get a better understanding of what leadership is. Strong, able wolves in the front set the pace, by encouraging others to do more. Old, sage wolves temper that pace, making time for training the young. It is this teaching, guiding, and encouraging other group members toward a common goal, while leveraging abilities to advance the group, that makes great achievements possible.
The grand design in it all is that the very back of the pack is where one would most likely find the alpha. The strongest, smartest leader has a view of the entire group, an eye watching for the destination and an ear listening for the future. A good team leader keeps this dynamic of exchange in mind. John Maxwell summed this idea up when he said, “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
About that Potato
Since Dad died, we haven’t celebrated much Christmas. Not enough money, not enough time. Not enough interest, I suppose. We would get together on the 25th for dinner and Riley would get a couple of presents. But, that’s what Christmas had become.
Mom was diagnosed in May. One day in October, we were all reminiscing about our wonderful Christmases back in the day when family came in town and presents were piled high. There were football games in the cold while Gramma Rowley cooked dinner. And we stayed up late to watch the weather to see where Santa’s sleigh was. It was all love and family. I decided then to try to bring that back for her. (And all of us.)
So, I started stockpiling presents. Little things, like the gaudy orange knit hat with ear flaps so she’d be warm driving to doctors appointments, for example. We dragged all the decorations out of storage. She and I spent a whole week decorating. Tom said it looked like an elf threw up everywhere! And I started wrapping all those silly gifts.
Riley was helping me wrap one day. I explained about the Christmases we used to have and how I wanted to make this one special for Nana. She was a little sad that she hadn’t gotten Nana anything. Promising we’d shop later, I said something about how it didn’t matter what she got - the gift was the box full of love. I went back to wrapping and Riley went off to play. I had wrapped a couple more presents when Riley came back to the wrapping table with a box. She wrapped it and put it under the tree.
I was as surprised as anyone when Nana unwrapped a potato.
When Nana asked, “Ummm, you gave me a potato?” Riley said it wasn’t a potato - it was a hug. Anytime Nana wanted a hug she only had to present the potato. Guaranteed hug! We have teased Nana mercilessly about being a hugger. It was the best present ever.
When the potato sprouted, Riley thought we should plant it. So, during the last hospital stay Tom brought Mom a foam potato so she’d always have one. She loved it!
After Mom died, I went through her phone to find numbers so I could personally let all her people know how much she cherished them. Unlocking the phone, I saw someone had texted her a potato emoji. Confused, I looked through those messages. Turns out, since Christmas they had switched to signing off with that potato emoji instead of ‘bye, love you’. I took a screenshot of the message thread and shared it with everyone. Tom bought each of us one of those foam potatoes. And, now we say potato.
What is Leadership?
Every group has a purpose - some goal to achieve, an outcome to reach. Members work together to reach that goal, each according to their position and abilities. They develop, increasing their knowledge and strengths, as they learn and grow to fit the needs of the group. Family members start as children, unlearned and dependent. In time, they become adults who contribute skills and guidance to the group. Finally, to become the elders who share their wisdom and knowledge, molding the journey along the way. Each stage of development is directed by the common goal of furthering the family - accumulating wealth, experiences, and opportunities for all. Corporations are no different. New hires become supervisors who manage departments and eventually join a board of directors all with their common goal in mind. Leadership is that quality in each member of the group which teaches, nourishes, and inspires development in the other members, as they strive toward their collective goal. One of my favorite examples of a good leadership style is how a wolf pack organizes during long migrations. The old and the young occupy the central position where the older wolves can prepare the young for the future. A few of the strongest wolves are in front of the pack. The rest of the strong bring up the rear. As the young wolves in the core learn and grow, they move out through the ranks to become teachers to the next generation. They have made the journey before. They have grown strong and wise through their experiences and now guide others toward good hunting grounds and water sources. The wisdom of such a style is undeniable. The focus is on the development of individual members to drive the group’s progress. Wolf biologists continue to debate the exact hierarchy of the pack. But, if we look rather at the ideal this example represents. we get a better understanding of what leadership is. Strong, able wolves in the front set the pace, by encouraging others to do more. Old, sage wolves temper that pace, making time for training the young. It is this teaching, guiding, and encouraging other group members toward a common goal, while leveraging abilities to advance the group, that makes great achievements possible. The grand design in it all is that the very back of the pack is where one would most likely find the alpha. The strongest, smartest leader has a view of the entire group, an eye watching for the destination and an ear listening for the future. A good team leader keeps this dynamic of exchange in mind. John Maxwell summed this idea up when he said, “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
About That Potato
About that potato…. Since Dad died, we haven’t celebrated much Christmas. Not enough money, not enough time. Not enough interest, I suppose. We would get together on the 25th for dinner and Riley would get a couple of presents. But, that’s what Christmas had become. Mom was diagnosed in May. One day in October, we were all reminiscing about our wonderful Christmases back in the day when family came in town and presents were piled high. There were football games in the cold while Gramma Rowley cooked dinner. And we stayed up late to watch the weather to see where Santa’s sleigh was. It was all love and family. I decided then to try to bring that back for her. (And all of us.) So, I started stockpiling presents. Little things, like the gaudy orange knit hat with ear flaps so she’d be warm driving to doctors appointments, for example. We dragged all the decorations out of storage. She and I spent a whole week decorating. Tom said it looked like an elf threw up everywhere! And I started wrapping all those silly gifts. Riley was helping me wrap one day. I explained about the Christmases we used to have and how I wanted to make this one special for Nana. She was a little sad that she hadn’t gotten Nana anything. Promising we’d shop later, I said something about how it didn’t matter what she got - the gift was the box full of love. I went back to wrapping and Riley went off to play. I had wrapped a couple more presents when Riley came back to the wrapping table with a box. She wrapped it and put it under the tree. I was as surprised as anyone when Nana unwrapped a potato. When Nana asked, “Ummm, you gave me a potato?” Riley said it wasn’t a potato - it was a hug. Anytime Nana wanted a hug she only had to present the potato. Guaranteed hug! We have teased Nana mercilessly about being a hugger. It was the best present ever. When the potato sprouted, Riley thought we should plant it. So, during the last hospital stay Tom brought Mom a foam potato so she’d always have one. She loved it! After Mom died, I went through her phone to find numbers so I could personally let all her people know how much she cherished them. Unlocking the phone, I saw someone had texted her a potato emoji. Confused, I looked through those messages. Turns out, since Christmas they had switched to signing off with that potato emoji instead of ‘bye, love you’. I took a screenshot of the message thread and shared it with everyone. Tom bought each of us one of those foam potatoes. And, now we say potato.