A leader’s behavior, meaning their ability to engage in Genuine Dialogue, is always witnessed by subordinates. Here I mean the family and those around the kitchen table, at work, at school, and relationships in general. So, it is always the leader, whether a parent or any person in that role, who, while talking, doing their job, or just being, can succeed in conveying an open, receptive and nurturing nature. Naturally, the best judges of whether this is so or not are those at its immediate effect.
A significant problem at the root of every leadership failure is that most who lead only want subordinates to follow them. In other words, from that leader’s perspective, they only desire pawns who will do their bidding instead of allowing followers to assert their leadership. So, when this type of leader “leads,” the “truth” they get back is not exactly what they need or want. Typically, that type of leader blames others instead of accepting responsibility for their own failings.
So, I emphasize that the core of relationship problems between leaders and followers is the leader’s behavior, not the relationship. This failure is not a shared responsibility. How can it be when all the power resides in the hands of the leader?
There is no question that it takes a special person who, when and if they become a leader, will fill that role with an open example of courage, honesty, and an authentic desire to help their followers grow so that they can realize their own potentials.
I lead to improve—You, if you choose to be more—We help each other
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