You Don't Want Leaders

"Most of the ladies and gentlemen who mourn the passing of the nation's leaders wouldn't know a leader if they saw one. If they had the bad luck to come across a leader, they would find out that he might demand something from them, and this impertinence would put an abrupt and indignant end to their wish for his return."  Lewis Lapham

Companies talk a lot about leadership and wanting leaders.  Managers need to be leaders, setting the example for others.  Leadership training, leadership skills, blah blah blah.

But so often what they really want from managers, what they need to keep the organization running, is for managers to support the latest initiative that comes from top management, and sell it to other employees, and carry it out as efficiently as possible.  That way everyone pulls in the same direction, pursuing the same goals.  That's the leadership they want.

follower -n:  an enthusiast or supporter, as of a sport or team

What top mangement wants isn't leadership; they want followers.  They need people who will enthusiastically support the latest initiative that comes from someone else and encourage others to support it too.  They need cheerleaders.  There are always people who are willing to jump in and organize something, anything, with irritating amounts of energy and an apparently earnest belief in whatever comes along.  They have always baffled me.  But big companies love those people.  The people at the top of the organization want to be the leaders, and leaders need followers.  They can't afford to have too many leaders in the organization.  Real leaders might question their projects, express doubts, try to go in another direction and take others with them.  Real leaders would create havoc.

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

Just call me a manager.  A guy who accepts a set of tasks and initiatives and organizes people to accomplish them.  That's what you pay me to do.  You don't want me to lead.