Jerry Garcia named his bluegrass group “Old and in the Way” as a self-deprecating joke. Well, before you react, don’t forget his first group was the “Grateful Dead.”
Old and in the way, that’s what I heard them say
They used to heed the words he said, but that was yesterday
Gold will turn to gray, and youth will fade away
They’ll never care about you, call you old and in the way
Feeling Powerless?
The joke was on us because that song was a best-selling bluegrass album. Lately, I hear more friends bemoaning the state of our world today and feeling powerless, which got me thinking about the power we have, whether we see ourselves as leaders or followers.
At a recent talk about leadership I attended, someone pointed out that followers are important, too, because the role of a follower is also significant and occurs more frequently for most of us. I would like to suggest that each of us experiences times when we are followers and other times when we are empowered as leaders – whether as parents, friends, in our professions, or in the complex interactions within our communities, our country, and the world.
Leadership and Following
My life has been marked by both leadership and following. When I was a school principal in Oakland with 1,400 students, I thought I had a great deal of power; yet, I was subject to the influence of parents, teachers, several labor unions, and the superintendent.
Later, when I was a superintendent in a San Jose district, I had five bosses – the School Board. As a parent, and now with my five-year-old grandson, I’m never sure of who is in charge.
What Makes Up a Good Leader?
Many qualities that make up a good leader can also be applied to our sense of agency in moments when we have power, and when we need to speak up when we witness something bad happening to someone else. Stephen Covey says, “There is a deep, innate, almost inexpressible yearning within each one of us to find our voice in life.”
Have you ever felt that you need to say something or do something?
British religious scholar Rabbi Jonathan Sacks identified a set of principles for leadership. I share them below and add my thoughts about leading and following next to them:
Principle 1: Leadership Begins with Taking Responsibility
Each of us is free to be accountable and responsible. Together, we can change the world. We are never powerless; we can speak up and stand up for what we believe.
Principle 2: No One Can Lead Alone
We each have different qualities that can contribute to making the world a better place. It takes leaders and followers and can never be the result of just one person. As leaders, we need to surround ourselves with thoughtful people who contribute their ideas and energy. As followers, we must select wise, compassionate leaders with a moral compass who care about others.
Principle 3: Leadership Is About the Future
We must have a vision of the future and communicate it effectively. We need to be fully present and not procrastinate, while also looking ahead to prepare for what’s coming.
Principle 4: Leaders Learn
We all can grow and change as we learn from our successes and mistakes. We will grow wiser and more intelligent by learning from our missteps and errors.
Principle 5: Leadership Means Believing in the People
As leaders and followers, we can only make a difference if we trust and believe in others as well as ourselves.
Principle 6: Leadership Involves a Sense of Timing and Pace
I sincerely believe the words of the song, “Turn, Turn, Turn,” that come from the Bible, “to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose.”
Principle 7: Leadership Is Stressful and Emotionally Demanding
Well, no doubt about that.
My friend and mentor, Edmundo Norte, taught me:
“When we find ourselves feeling powerless, our role is to speak up, resist injustice, and demand accountability from those with power and influence. And when we are in a position of influence, our role is to listen, learn, collaborate, and empower others, using our standing to effect change.”
Let’s Have a Conversation:
When have you found yourself in the roles of leader and follower? What have you learned about being a leader and a follower?
