Leaders need Leaders
Are you leading?
It is one thing to lead, but it is another to lead effectively. It is possible to be doing less than you have the capacity for while burning all energy—doing more but achieving less.
Do you think you have more to deliver than you are currently doing? Are you doing what other people around you could easily do effectively? Are you doing too much while you have people with potential that lack opportunities to do more?
It is often tempting for a leader to fall for the temptation of doing everything. There could be some reasonable or valid reasons or perhaps some hidden motives that underlay such actions. Sometimes it could be the desire for instant perfection which disqualifies everyone else. They may say things like: no one can do it the right way, or perfect first time or as desired or perhaps meet some set expectations. It is not untrue in some cases, but what is the solution?
“You need leaders to lead”
The solution for some is to be the one to do everything, be everywhere, attend all meetings, deliver every speech, answer every call, check every record, read every mail, solve every problem, and so on. The problem is that such an idea would eventually limit the leader and the growth of the organisation they lead. It will also have a significant impact on him as a person. I have found that whatever you can do alone can be done with more people—trained, equipped and guided, to achieve more results with less impact on one individual.
Jethro, a Kenite shepherd, visited his father-in-law, Moses. He was glad to hear about all the good things that have happened through the leadership of his son-in-law. He later discovered something that gave him concern. There was something significantly wrong with the process of executing his duties because it had the prospect of destroying potential.
He observed, during his stay, one of the sessions where his son-in-law served as a judge of the people. He saw that he was doing it all alone—every person that came had to see him, which meant that he got occupied, doing the same thing for the whole day. He knew that he would only wear himself out if he continued that way and would not be able to maximise his potential. He knew there was more for his son-in-law to do, but he occupied his time with duties that would never allow him to do it.
“Followers will not become leaders until they get the training and exposure required to take responsibility.”
Does this sound familiar? You can do more with your life when you learn to focus on your strength and do what you can do effectively, allowing others with relevant skills to share the burden.
You can do more as a leader, but you must be willing to let go of the unnecessary duties preventing you from focusing on the needful. Many people get occupied with what others can do for them and do not have enough time to focus on the critical assignment. You can tell what the result would be; you can tell when it begins to tell on them. It is not a good idea.
When you have more to do or struggle to manage effectively, or cannot focus on your strength, it is perhaps the signal that you need help. You may be a leader, but that does not mean you should do everything. You can train, equip and guide others to fulfil their potential. Followers will not become leaders until they get the training and exposure required to take responsibility.
Leaders need leaders, and you could get them by training the people you serve. They are the help you need to do more with less. Yes, you need leaders to lead.
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