Initiating vs Responding, Part two
My thoughts on Leaders vs. Followers, and Initiating vs. Responding continues….. If you didn’t have a chance to read part one, here it is.
Leaders don’t let fear or a strong sense of anxiety paralyze them. They attack fear. Head on. And are willing to lean heavily into the rough waters and push through.
Followers stop when things get rough. Rough waters tend to bring about dissension and cynicism among followers.
Leaders are innovators. They try new things. They are willing to fail, but fail trying.
Followers simply want to maintain the status quo. And very rarely are they willing to risk or try anything new.
Leaders embrace change. They invite change in their own lives and in the context of their leadership because they know change many times is the way we grow and improve.
Followers despise change, and do everything possible to resist it.
Leaders accept responsibility, and are motivated by more things on their plate and under their leadership, vs. less.
Followers avoid responsibility, and would much rather that someone else is “responsible” instead of them.
Leaders despise inaction. It drives leaders crazy to not make progress.
Are you a leader or a follower???
…and leaders don’t always carry the title of Leader. some of the greatest leading arises when a follower wakes up and sees the need to lead in the moment.
great post.
Thanks for the challenging thoughts Brad. While I agree that there are personality and character distinctions between leaders and followers … for the sake of conversation … it’s difficult for me to want to paint followers in such a negative light. If the followers we are leading saw that this is how we thought of them … would we lose credibility in their eyes. Would they be upset at our view of them?
Also, at some point we are all followers … so I don’t know if I would want to categorize myself with the labels used in the post for followers. I follow my board of directors, I follow the lead of my pastor and ultimately follow Jesus.
Your thoughts spark some great thought and conversation. Maybe it’s hard to swallow because I can see myself in the lines about followers more that I’d really like to admit.
You should also consider that the leader is also the servant. Jesus washing the feet…
Great stuff Brad. Thanks for sharing. If we are going to fulfill God’s mission we need to be leaders that are proactive not reactive. Thanks for being that kind of leader for so many!