If we have a poor leader, we struggle to make it. If we have a great leader, we soar. Let’s look a little closer at this...many of the circles I run in are leaders, like me. I learn a lot from them, but I notice a dynamic that seems to be limiting what’s possible: it’s common to reach a level of proficiency by following a good leader, becoming a leader, and then to stop following a leader.
Here’s the thing...We can only advance as far as the leader. So when we outgrow a leader, we may be tempted to just go solo and piggyback on our peers’ ideas for growth. While that kind of collaboration is very important, once again, we can only rise as high as the people who are at the top. So, the value of peer leadership becomes very limited.
My point is that if we wish to continue expanding into our leadership potential, the most skillful way is to get guidance and leadership from someone who is doing what we want to do and doing it well. And that requires us being humble and open enough to receive and willing to invest our time, money and energy in our growth as a leader. So if we want to continue growing as a good leader, we must continue following a good leader. That’s all!