JKL Associates - Business & Talent Builders Blog!

January 28, 2010 - ISSN# 1545-2646

To often in our society we place leaders on some pedestal thinking that they have all the answers. They will lead everyone out of darkness into new found light.

This week I ask you to challenge this theory by looking at the role of a good or even great follower.

The old saying of too many cooks spoils the soup supports that not everyone can be the leader. It does not mean that followers don’t have critical accountability and responsibility to assist the leader in moving the vision and mission of the business forward.

A leader with out good followers is a zoo keeper most of the time, trying to keep the animals in the zoo from taking over the place. A leader with support from the followers can as a team conquer any and all tasks in front of them.

This does not mean that good followers are drones. Taking orders and completing task. A good or great follower is a individual that utilize their talents to move the progress of the initiative forward.  This can sometimes come in the form of agreement and other times in the form of constructive disagreement.

It is not wise for the follower to jump off the cliff if the leader instructs them to do so without first questioning why. Questioning leadership helps them galvanize their plans into workable solutions so that the end result is far better than if they only consulted their own set of personal insights. This collective gathering of feedback from followers to leaders brings about more significant buy in and ownership in the projects at hand.

It keeps leaders in check so they must continuously improve their own skills to bring to the workplace to share. Followers improve their skills to knock the leader off center and thus again forward progress takes place by everyone staying on top of their skills and talents through continuous improvement.

As you challenge this theory this week, take a look at your leadership skills and at your follower skills. You need both to be a great leader and provide an example to develop great followers.

Questions or comments - email us at partners@jklassociates.com or call our Office at (313) 527-7945

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JKL Associates
18530 Mack Ave #242
Grosse Pointe Farms
MI 48236

Main

(313) 527-7945
Fax

(313) 731-0626

As we roll forward with January 2010, I must stop and ask – Are your doing the TWO Step?  More specifically – which TWO Step?

There is the two step where you take one step forward and two backward or two steps forward and one step backward or maybe in 2010 you can focus on taking one or two steps forward with out any going backward.

To accomplish this last desired outcome you must have a plan to keep the steps moving forward even in the face of adversity. With all the possible events to distract or create tangents for your strategic plan, you need to keep your tactics driving your results toward your planned outcomes.

Much like driving your car to a destination, you are likely to encounter construction or accidents or even road closures. Do you stop and call it a day or do you quickly redesign your driving route to get to your final destination.

2010 will have its share of challenges. Actually every year is filled with a variety of curves in the road.  The ultimate question you must ask yourself – Are you ready to navigate them effectively or guess?

This coming week, take a look at your 2010 plans again.  If they are not already grouped into key or critical priority categories take that step first. Make sure each one has a means to measure progress. Set up a timetable to review your progress and make adjustments.

Your plans are not static documents.  They need to be agile. They need to be open to improvement when your input sources bring new light to your business indicators.

Like dancing the two step, if the pace of the music changes your business MUST be ready to move with the new pace and not in a backward direction.

Questions or comments - email us at partners@jklassociates.com or call our Office at (313) 527-7945

Get this e-newsletter from a friend?

Complimentary assessment

Cost of turnover calculator

Business Builders Toolbox

Job Seekers Research

JKL Associates
18530 Mack Ave #242
Grosse Pointe Farms
MI 48236

Main

(313) 527-7945
Fax

(313) 731-0626