Silver Classics is the Top 7 L2L posts over the last year. This classic review allows you to enjoy the Top Selections as L2L Editor/Publisher Tom Schulte takes some time off to celebrate his 25th Silver Wedding Anniversary!
Leading From Behind
Sometimes the best helping hand you can get is a good, firm push. – Joann Thomas
We often think of the leader as the person out in front, the visionary whom others are inspired by. Followers are close behind, focused on the goal, listening for direction, taking action, moving forward as the leader moves forward.
The above quote reminds us that sometimes, the best leading is done from behind.
Engage Creative Genius
The May 10 edition of the Harvard Business Review includes a post titled “Leading From Behind,” about the impact of today’s economy on leadership styles. Author Linda Hill notes that today’s successful leaders are those who are skilled at “harnessing people’s collective genius.”
Hill cites two conditions for success:
First, leaders must ensure people in their organizations are willing to innovate.
This is fundamentally about building community.
Some leaders refer to this function as “creating a world to which people want to belong.” In these communities, people are valued for who they are and have theopportunity to contribute to something larger than themselves.
Second, leaders must build the organizational capabilities necessary for engaging in the innovation process. The three essential organizational capabilities are:
- Creative abrasion – The ability to generate ideas through intellectual discourse and discussion
- Creative agility – The ability to test and refine ideas through quick pursuit, and
- Creative resolution – The ability to make decisions in an integrative manner
The Right People
In April, Voice of America News also published an article titled Leading From Behind about Nelson Mandela, and the relationship that Time Magazine editor Richard Stengel built with him over a three-year period. Stengel collaborated on Mandela’s autobiography, Long Road to Freedom, and now his own book about the man, Mandela’s Way: 15 Lessons on Life, Love and Courage.
In the VOA article, Stengel shared this Mandela story:
“Lead from the front is the more conventional kind of leading that we know — getting up on the podium and giving a speech or saying follow me. But leading from the back is a different idea. We used to take these early morning walks in the countryside near where he grew up. He once asked me if I ever herded cattle before. I said, ‘no.’
He said, ‘It’s interesting because there are lessons for leadership because the way you herd cattle is you lead them from behind. You find the most able and smartest cattle and have them lead the way. You empower them.’ He said that’s a good lesson for all of us. You basically have to kind of share the wealth. You have to find people who can execute your vision and ideas.”
The above excerpts are very different in approach, but share the same concept. A leader does not have to be the person out front leading the charge.
The leader is the person who creates the vision, sets the direction, and then puts the right people in the right position to move the team toward the goal.
Leadership is Influence
Leadership is not a place in line, a box on an org chart, or a title on a business card.
Authentic leadership is the ability to influence a group of people toward a common vision.
That leading can be done from the front, from among the people, or pushing from behind. A strong leader knows which type of leadership is needed at the moment, and puts the right leadership skills to use.
When have you found leading from behind to be more effective? What was different in your approach compared to leading from the front? What leading from behind wisdom can you share with our readers?
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Eleanor Biddulph is the EVP of Client Services at Progressive Medical, Inc.
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Edited by Mike Weppler
Image Sources: wrrm.org, valuesintopractice.com
Related articles by Zemanta
- Leading from Behind (blogs.hbr.org)
- Leading from Behind: Lessons in life and leadership from Nelson Mandela | VOA News (voanews.com)
- IBM Study: CEOs Say Creativity and Managing Complexity Are Vital Today (designmind.frogdesign.com)
Such a great post.
Getting the right people on board is the key. Then, getting out of the way.
Leadership is so much more about creating the space for people development than it is about bottom lines and margins and all that jazz.
Although making money is very important, facilitating lasting life development within our employees is the most telling tail as to whether or not we are true leaders.
Furthermore, without this facilitation and without true mutual care within the workplace, we can kiss this “Leading From Behind” paradigm goodbye.”
Again, thanks.
Hope and Peace,
Andrew S. Dungan, MA
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