Ira Challef closes his brilliant book “The Courageous Follower” with a number of meditations on followership. He says, “For me, becoming a courageous follower, like becoming a good human being, is both a daily and a life-long task. Visualizing a desired state helps to realize it.” (p. 221)
The first mediation he offers is: I am a steward of this group and share responsibility for its success. One definition of a steward is “one who is morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, or other resources, especially with respect to the needs of a community or group.” (www.yourdictionary.com/steward)
As a leader, what would it be like if every member of your group or organization saw themselves as a steward of the group’s success? It would transform your work as a leader and what you could accomplish as a group. Please understand that we will never appreciate and encourage stewardship from our followers unless we practice it ourselves as a follower.
It is not an invitation from our leader that initiates our stewardship and shared responsibility as followers. The group’s shared purpose self-authorizes us to assume full responsibility for our autonomous action to act as a steward of the group’s resources and its success.
Our personal development as followers and leaders is our responsibility. We are responsible for our own behavior, not how others respond to our behavior. Excuses are irrelevant.
Make 2010 the year that you learn the difficult but rewarding work of being a steward for every group you are a member of.
Related Posts:
ACT Change: Only You Can Empower Yourself
Leadership Development: The Foundation
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Thank you for some of these wonderful thoughts, they really convey the same value find necessary for a successful relationship between leader and follower. It really is amazing how much a shared understanding can really change the environment in which we work. Again, thank you!
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Welcome, Alex! You have more influence than you might think at work, even early in your career. You can change your environment by chaning yourself. Thanks for the comment! Bret
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“We are responsible for our own behavior, not how others respond to our behavior. ‘Excuses are irrelevant.’” — This statement completely sums it up Bret. Both followers and leaders should realize the power of this statement to truly benefit their organization.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:02 pm
I agree, Kevin. If we would relate to each other this way it would transform our workplaces. Thanks for the comment! Bret
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What a strong observation that “I Am A Steward of This Group and Share Responsibility For Its Success”. This is the ideal relationship that we should have with every single interaction with in our environment. It touches on a fundamental underlining of what it is to be human in so many ways. And especially because we have to work with others to support our sustenance, it is a great idea to integrate this type of thinking into our organizations. A very stirring post. Thank you for that!
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:32 am
Welcome, Vern! You add some great points. It does take everyone working together and everyone doing her/his part to maximize the purpose of any group or system. Thanks for sharing! Bret
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I really appreciate the take on followership, especially practice what you preach to appreciate stewardship as a leader. I completely agree that you lead how you follow. I see it every day in the workplace. The greatest leaders are the best followers. Thanks Bret!
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 3rd, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Welcome, Matt! Well said and I agree, the best leaders are also the best followers. Thanks for the comment! Bret
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Wonderful thoughts with which to enter 2010, Bret. I’m a big fan of Peter Block (great book on Stewardship) and Kenneth Greenleaf (servant leadership. I’ll be sharing some thoughts in a post on Monday dealing with the concept of GLOCO and how we can use our inner leadership to make our world a better place.
Thanks for sharing, and I’m impressed with the HD quality of your posts….J
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 3rd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Welcome, Jim! I’m a big fan of those guys too. Look forward to your post! Thanks for sharing, Bret
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I enjoyed this short video and post. I agree that amazing things can happen when all members of a group take responsibility for the direction and outcomes of the group. I took a teambuilding class last summer with Dr. Ryan and she taught along these same lines. It is refreshing to have her teachings confirmed by another, it drives the point home even harder. Thank you.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Welcome, Adrian! I’ve heard great things about Dr. Ryan’s class. We all can accomplish much more together when every member holds him/herself fully accountable. Thanks! Bret
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