Being the person that people want to follow should be the aspirational goal for all of us. It is the identifying mark of a leader. John Maxwell says, “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.” Bam!
Being the Person That People Want to Follow
When we did a substantial renovation of City Hall a couple of years ago, I wanted leadership quotes placed on the walls throughout the building. It was an effort to help build and reaffirm our culture of leadership.
About that time, I had written a blog entitled, The Person People Want to Follow. So, I decided to place that reminder right outside my office. Written in big, blue lettering it reads, “Be the person that people want to follow.” A daily directive to inspire me.
It SHOULD be one of the first things that I see every day. The strategic placement SHOULD challenge me to lead daily with the right attitude and behavior to be that person. Instead, I can walk right by it. Busyness carries me past it, and the chaos of the day distracts me from it.
At times, I have become desensitized to it. There are days that I may not even believe it.
When I am living up to the words on the wall, here are the five things I desire to be:
An Interceder
Life and leadership is a series of intersections. Interceders are the someones or somethings that redirect our journeys. It may have been a mentor, teacher, pastor, friend, or coach…you name it. Our lives look different because these special people entered our worlds. Great leaders positively redirect the journeys of others.
I desire to be an interceder in the lives of others.
Be Authentic
Oscar Wilde once said, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” It is much easier to be authentic than to attempt to be someone we aren’t. Authenticity connects, superficial separates. People desire to follow leaders who are real.
One of our team members calls it being “Just James.” When all else fails, I desire my default to be authentic.
Be Humble
C.S. Lewis provides the greatest definition of humility, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Humility may be the single greatest quality of a leader. It leads to relatability. Relatability creates followers.
The work we do is not about me, I desire to be humble.
Balance Grace and Accountability
Achieving perfect balance of anything in leadership is difficult. Work-life is the first balancing act that comes to mind.
Here is one that we don’t talk enough about…that of grace and accountability. Achieving perfect balance of the two is difficult. There should always be tension that exists within us as leaders between the two.
Accountability is a necessary function of leadership. We have a responsibility to make sure things get done and are done well. Too much accountability and the scales tip towards harsh criticism.
Grace balances that. Why is that so important? Because as leaders, we need grace as well.
Our organization needs accountability, our people need grace. I desire to reach a balance in the application of both.
Love and Care for Them
In my self-evaluation each year, I solicit Upward Feedback from our team. It asks four simple questions:
- What words do you associate with my leadership?
- What do I do well as a leader?
- What are opportunities for me to improve as a leader?
- Do you feel that I love and care for you as a team member and a person?
The fourth and final question is the most important. If they don’t feel that I love and care for them, I am failing as a leader.
On the other hand, love is not always unicorns and rainbows. Discipline is a form of love. Like blocks of raw clay, we are constantly being shaped and molded into better versions of ourselves. Sometimes that means tough love to get there.
I desire to love and care for those that I lead.
Conclusion
Like any leader, I miss the mark. Probably one of the only promises I can make to our team is that at some point, I will fail them. My intentions to lead well don’t always determine my daily direction.
Being the person that people want to follow is a worthy pursuit. If I desire to be that person, there are a few critical words on that wall. One, be the PERSON. Not the boss, not the supervisor, not the title, but a quality PERSON. If we can achieve that, people will WANT to follow us. Not have to follow, not must follow, not required to follow, but will WANT to follow.
Be the person that people want to follow.
