Can you lead from behind?
The back story… I was a guest speaker at our local Rotary Club last week. I was sharing my journey from Scottish farmer’s daughter to Australian leadership book author. Following my delivery I was delighted by two things:
How clearly the members understood the fundamental difference between leadership and management, and
Their thought provoking questions
One question in particular I wanted to share with you. A ‘lady at the back’ asked “Is it possible to lead from behind?” What a super question!
Many of you may have heard about wolves, and how allegedly they lead from behind (Heads up: it’s a viral hoax!) I confess it does make a good story, but the facts aren’t quite there to support it. Anyhoo, back to the question at hand… can you lead from behind?
I believe it is possible to lead from anywhere - behind, up front, at the side, from the top and from the bottom. This is because when you choose to lead, the best place to lead from is WHERE YOU ARE NOW.
Your leadership style is as unique as your fingerprint. Own your differences; the nuances in your leadership. Leverage the things that make you different from someone else. Gone are the days (well… so help me… almost!) of a one-size-fits-all, command-and-control leadership style. Get to know yourself and your unique leadership attributes and start from there. Feel your way forward. Experiment. Observe and respond to what works and what doesn’t.
Simply begin.
Leadership is an exciting adventure. Take time to reflect on where you are now. Consider your destination, or perhaps break it down more simply to the next ‘stop’. Ask for directions along the way; you don’t have to get there all by yourself. And remember to take time to look at the stunning views along the way.
If you’d like more support to help you with your leadership adventure please check out Chapter 2: ‘Learning about yourself’ in my book ‘on your marks, get set… LEAD!’ or reach out to us - we’d love to hear from you!
