Follow First

I continue to search out what it means to follow and yet, I find out more about leading that leads me back to being a better follower. And the loop continues...more of that robust evaluation and correction!

Through following I'm becoming more patient and I find that while I'm practicing patience others around me are grasping a better hold of their responsibilities. Yet, most of these that I'm following are subordinates on the org chart. And that's a good thing. Waiting, allowing others to lead has been refreshing, even a bit nerve racking!

I can see where many problems have stemmed from; people don't know how to follow. Or, at the least, they don't know how to be a good follower (Ira would say "they don't know how to be a Courageous Follower). Now, to have had more courageous followers like Cathy Smith in the past...today's results would have been much better.

Much of following has to do with behavior and if practicing Smart Trust has taught me anything it has taught me how to me watchfull of my followers' agendas and motives; which are played out in their behavior. Specifically, I've learned to look for passive-agressive natures. It's refreshing to have people like Carrie Hartwell that walk their talk. People like that are easy to trust; they allow themselves to be held accountable and their behavior matches up with their agendas.

So, slowly I practice the discipline of Following; learning what it means to be a good follower; a courageous follower; a follower that is working to make the best of where he is; getting good results of the box.

And hopefully that leads me to becoming a better leader; learning through change.

To that end...