Anyway - How did I ever get into reading all that stuff anyway? The first year I was living on my own, my current wife (then fiance), Lisa inspired me to sign-up for an online leadership course with Union Community College. At the time, I had been about 10 years in the corporate environment. Needless to say, "leadership" is a buzzword of choice many talked the talk about. Was it confused with "management" ? All the time. I believe it still is.
No.
I am not going to dive into the whole "leadership vs. management" thing here. I really wanted to make an entry centered around this awesome Dilbert strip my brother-in-law texted me the other day:
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| Gotta Love Dilbert! |
He basically said "for your blog". Indeed!
When I got to thank him in person, we chuckled on the message delivered in the comic strip, and he commented that there is "one" true book on leadership. "Really?" I asked. He replied: "The Art of War by Sun Tzu...". Surprised, I said, "oh yea... I believe I have a copy... "
Which I do. I now owe it to myself find it and and read The Art of War in full. Make an entry?... of course.. I am not a big fan of war (although I loved GI Joe in my youth), but it is the ultimate environment in which leadership is the determinant between life & death... victory & defeat.
Before I digress, back to Dilbert - and yes... in a way, Dilbert is right! From everything I've seen so far, there is no ONE way to lead, or a defined formula for leadership. It almost has to be a unique blend of situational awareness and authentic personal attributes with responses based on principles (no techniques, please). Ok, there can be a great deal of theory that can be learned and applied. Although theory is great, I've noticed that those who are natural leaders are not easily impressed with such books or the topic. Rightfully so. I can't imagine Babe Ruth being interested in "base ball batting techniques" or how to "improve the game". Some are a natural at what they do. Period. Can you expect that such books can suddenly make an average batter into a "Babe Ruth". Doubt it. I know I can't take credit for this analogy: I guess you can teach a duck to soar with the eagles, but he is still a duck. If anything, I guess it is best to be the BEST duck one can be than to feign being something you are not... the whole "A cat does not try to be a tiger - nor should he".
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| But I look like a tiger in the mirror.... |
I believe any of us can be a leader at the appropriate moment. Each one of us has the potential to do what is tight and be the example others seek. To live principles. To find the way and empower. We don't need books for that. It's in each and every one of us. It's common sense. Sadly, it's not common practice.
I believe understanding leadership is probably more important than trying to be "a leader". Books can be extremely helpful for this. To be a courageous follower. The man who can deliver a message to Garcia. These are just as critical, and just as sought out as true, authentic leaders.
