Are you a leader or a follower?
It is weird that it seems like a loaded question these days, as if there is an expectation that we are meant to all be leaders, influencers, self-driven... but the fact is, that most of us are not, we are followers, sheep, looking to belong to a flock for protection, so we don't get singled out and slaughtered by the wolves.
So which was it?
But, perhaps the question is unfair, as it sets up a false dichotomy, as if it is a binary choice and there is only one or the other. That isn't the case, because whether we follow or lead is likely highly contextual. In some cases we might be confident in forging ahead and leading the way, and in others, we will happily defer to those who we think can lead us better, or who we are taught to believe can lead us better.
In a world of influencers, what influence do you carry?
This is an attention economy in so many ways, and there is a kind of attention is valuable to have, and what is just attention-seeking without a payoff. Yet, it seems that many people are taking the attention at any cost method. For example, on average about 5 people have died each year from shark attacks in the last decade, but in the same period, over 300 people have died taking selfies. This doesn't mean that selfies themselves are dangerous, but rather, that people are willing to do some pretty stupid things to get a picture of themselves for social media attention.
| Man Mauled to Death in Lion Enclosure While Taking Selfie in India | Man Killed by Walrus He Was Taking Selfie With | Girl taking selfie falls from Ferris wheel in Bankura, dies |
| Man Taking Selfie With Two Elephants Trampled to Death | Man Tries to Take Selfie With Snake, Gets Bitten and Dies | Man Seen Dancing on Top of an 18-Wheeler Dies When It Passes Under Freeway Overpass in Houston |
| Selfie Attempt Leaves Nine Dead in Boat Accident | Woman falls to her death from Turkish cliff while posing for a photo to celebrate end of lockdown measures | Man dies in selfie with hippo attempt |
Most people fell from cliffs and waterfalls.
"If all your friends were jumping off cliffs, would you?"
Sounds like behavior of followers, not influencers, doesn't it? And I think that this is what might be confusing a lot of people, because they tend to think that being a leader is being someone who is an early adopter, but that isn't the case. Sure, that can influence people, but it isn't really leading anyone - it is following the suggestion of marketing, society, trends, or whatever else is out there.
Leadership comes with responsibility, but influencing doesn't. And the thing is that a lot of people aren't interested in taking responsibility, because that means that there are consequences for actions. I wonder how keen social media influencers would be to recommend products, if they were held personally responsible for them not working?
Stand behind the shill?
Of course, leading and following in the workplace is a bit different, but while many people dream about becoming an entrepreneur and being their own boss, the reality is quite different. Entrepreneurship doesn't provide freedom from rules, it just means that one has to apply the rules to themselves and act accordingly, because there is no one else to take the blame.
Self-directed.
Not free.
For most of us in the workplace though, following tends to be the path we choose, because it means that we are able to get some of the benefits from trading our skills, but not having to take on all the responsibility of the decision-making process, or the consequences of our actions. Yes, we get paid less, and probably taken advantage of, but it is a bit like living in an apartment block, there might be noisy neighbors, but someone else does the maintenance.
But as said above, we are probably all leaders and all followers at times, so it might be worthwhile reflecting in which areas we are willing to lead, and which we would rather defer. This way, we might be more capable to identify and take hold of opportunities to lead, but also acknowledge when it would be better to find someone who knows more. That way, we can also possibly build up a collection of trusted advisors in our circle who we can turn to when we need a little guidance.
All I know is...
Follow me at your own risk.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]