In my last video, I talked about the importance of relationship to leadership. In those four short minutes I mainly discussed how healthy relationships are characterized by mutual expectations that all parties recognize as legitimate. I also encouraged you to learn to become an independent and interdependent follower so that you can recognize, appreciate, and encourage that in others when you have the privledge to lead.
I did not get a chance to talk about the importance of caring, which I discuss in this brief video. There is no substitute for performance – being very good at your given responsibilities – and no substitute for caring – about what you do, why you do it, who you do it for and who you do it with.
You simply MUST learn the value of caring as a follower. If you don’t develop this as a follower, it will be very difficult to develop as a leader. We don’t trust people that we think don’t care about us, and you will not accomplish very much as a leader if people don’t trust you.
Remember this: you can’t fake caring. All we have to do is listen to what you say and watch what you do over time and it will be obvious what you really care about.
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My Favorite Way to Think About Leadership: Part 2
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I like these words, Bret: “You simply must learn the value of caring as a follower. If you don’t develop this as a follower, it will be very difficult to develop as a leader.” How true, but I’d never seen it articulated before.
Thank you for the insight!
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 7:41 am
It’s not a law of the universe, but I firmly believe that we lead the way we follow. Thanks, Christine! Bret
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Bret,
You are so right when you talk about not being able to teach others to care. I have always found that when I’ve gotten to the point of no longer caring, it’s time to move on. Once I’ve lost that caring (for the job, the work, the organization) I can’t get it back. So the only thing I’ve been able to do is find something new to care about. Which of course is energizing in itself. Sometimes, I have to look outside the work to find something else to care about to carry me through for a while.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I’ve been there too, Tom, and I’ve done the same – moved on. That’s one reason why I am a big supporter of always being prepared to move on. No substitute for performance – it keeps you marketable in case you need to find something new. Thanks! Bret
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