I have a statement that I made a long time ago, “I only follow good leadership.”  I developed it during a time when in the congregation I was a member, saw a spike of everyone trying to lead.  No one wanted to follow and it would seem that as soon as people grew just a little bit they wanted to lead rather than be led.   I have said it before and I will say again, leadership looks wonderful, powerful, easy and fun.   Who doesn’t want to be a leader?  No one wants to be a follower because we equate following with failure or flunkies which is not true.  In fact to be a good leader means one has had to be a follower.  At the time I coined this phrase above, I was a follower.  I was a great follower so much so that when the leadership wasn’t good, when it went too far, it was bought down and my hands had nothing to do with it.

Leaders are formed everywhere, in every circle, group there is always the room and potential for leaders.  The problem occurs when the leaders do not want to be led.  There is always room for more than one leader but there has to be a hierarchy established and at the top one leader, one head.  All leadership must fall under the head of the organization, the head of the group.  Good leadership can always follow rules not just set them for others.   There are times when leadership would appear to be above certain laws, rules, or principles, but that’s never the case.  In fact leadership is held to a much higher standard and even when it would appear that it will get away with conduct that isn’t appropriate it (LEADERSHIP) never does.  There isn’t any leadership or form of it that doesn’t get what he or she deserves; be it good or bad.  In fact I have witnessed it.  The point is to follow the leader, the head.

As stated before, within in organizational structure there is a hierarchy and the ability for multiple leaders.   It may sound like chaos or confusion but it really isn’t.  In a business each leader has a purpose, a group to monitor and the goal is to all sing the same song on each level leading up to the leader, visionary or head of the group.   The confusion lies when leaders or leadership on a lower level begins or thinks that he or she may see or can do something better than the head.  Now don’t get me wrong, good ideas can come from all levels of leadership and even non-leaders, but it’s not the idea but rather how it is introduced and the consequences that accompany the ideas.  Typically in any organization only the head has to answer for any conduct of the leaders or non-leaders who serve, work under them.  That’s what people don’t understand so while one may feel closer to the leader he or she works with and may even share his or her views; remember that the head of the organization is there for a purpose and can see farther than one can on a lower level.  Additionally, follow the right chain of command to implement or even suggest ideas.  When a person breaks the chain of command he or she will always be disciplined faster and harder.  It is for this reason one has to be careful not to become side track with the other pretend leaders or those who seek to be in charge and attempt to do it by embarrassing or going against the leader.

Follow the leader, a good follower will always become a great leader and he or she will do so without having to look over his or her shoulder as he or she reigns.  Doing it the other way; means always carrying the fear of losing what one attempted to gain.  Who is leading you?

Which leader are you following?