Follow the Leader... Leader... Leader...
"Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership is leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 50% of your time leading yourself—your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 20% leading those with authority over you and 15% leading your peers. If you don't understand that you work for your mislabeled 'subordinates,' then you know nothing of leadership. You know only tyranny."
— Dee Hock
Founder and CEO Emeritus
VISA Internation
The picture in the top left hand corner is inspired by my minor obsession with "Words With Friends." Best. App. Ever. But let me get to the point...
I am two classes away from completing my Masters in Organizational Leadership and it's been a long journey of reflection, growth and constant application of what I have learned. I have always considered myself a leader since I was a young girl but that doesn't come without challenges along the way. To be a leader, you need to have followers; people who believe in you, see your vision and want to be a part of that experience. You need to lead by example but let's face it, no one is perfect; we all make mistakes. The mistakes we make inspire growth and redefines our purpose and what we stand for which in turn, make us stronger leaders.
I didn't discover my true leadership skills until I worked in Financial Services at age 23. I started out as a follower. Following the lead of trusted professionals was not an easy task for someone like me at that time - stubborn, no interest in the job, no education in financial services, no room to use my creativity that was always flowing through my veins, and quite frankly, I was a wise-ass. Following is the ultimate form of self-discipline. You are a leader in training; participating in activities in effort to achieve the mission at hand. As a follower you give up your trust to those who lead you, you share responsibility, you contribute your ideas for the greater good, you support the cause, you are selfless, and you commit yourself to excellence. You follow until an opportunity to lead presents itself. This is how I can describe my journey. Sometimes you have to completely give in, step outside of your comfort zone and really try to do something you have already decided you don't want to in order to discover the maximum potential that you have inside. I learned more about finance than I ever dreamed of knowing and more about myself in those five years at that firm than I could have ever imagined. In learning how to follow, I became a leader and I will continue to learn how to be more and more effective until the day I die.
Leaders and followers are equally important and we all have the capacity to be both. The more I learn about this particular topic, the more I see ineffective leaders that need to learn how to follow and the more I see followers who are capable of being exceptional leaders. Too often I see people in leadership positions that think power and control are what define them. They get lost in their own ego that they can't see past the lid of their expensive latte to discover that without modesty, you have no respect. Without respect, you have no trust. Without trust, you have no followers. Without followers, you have nothing as a leader.
We are all capable of anything. Recognize your potential and give in to it! Get crazy! Grab a friend, chest bump, put on some wigs and go make up a dance that you can do while you sing this song! I just did it... it felt good :)
Founder and CEO Emeritus
VISA Internation
The picture in the top left hand corner is inspired by my minor obsession with "Words With Friends." Best. App. Ever. But let me get to the point...
I am two classes away from completing my Masters in Organizational Leadership and it's been a long journey of reflection, growth and constant application of what I have learned. I have always considered myself a leader since I was a young girl but that doesn't come without challenges along the way. To be a leader, you need to have followers; people who believe in you, see your vision and want to be a part of that experience. You need to lead by example but let's face it, no one is perfect; we all make mistakes. The mistakes we make inspire growth and redefines our purpose and what we stand for which in turn, make us stronger leaders.
I didn't discover my true leadership skills until I worked in Financial Services at age 23. I started out as a follower. Following the lead of trusted professionals was not an easy task for someone like me at that time - stubborn, no interest in the job, no education in financial services, no room to use my creativity that was always flowing through my veins, and quite frankly, I was a wise-ass. Following is the ultimate form of self-discipline. You are a leader in training; participating in activities in effort to achieve the mission at hand. As a follower you give up your trust to those who lead you, you share responsibility, you contribute your ideas for the greater good, you support the cause, you are selfless, and you commit yourself to excellence. You follow until an opportunity to lead presents itself. This is how I can describe my journey. Sometimes you have to completely give in, step outside of your comfort zone and really try to do something you have already decided you don't want to in order to discover the maximum potential that you have inside. I learned more about finance than I ever dreamed of knowing and more about myself in those five years at that firm than I could have ever imagined. In learning how to follow, I became a leader and I will continue to learn how to be more and more effective until the day I die.
Leaders and followers are equally important and we all have the capacity to be both. The more I learn about this particular topic, the more I see ineffective leaders that need to learn how to follow and the more I see followers who are capable of being exceptional leaders. Too often I see people in leadership positions that think power and control are what define them. They get lost in their own ego that they can't see past the lid of their expensive latte to discover that without modesty, you have no respect. Without respect, you have no trust. Without trust, you have no followers. Without followers, you have nothing as a leader.
We are all capable of anything. Recognize your potential and give in to it! Get crazy! Grab a friend, chest bump, put on some wigs and go make up a dance that you can do while you sing this song! I just did it... it felt good :)
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