An audience member recently asked me, “What is the biggest change you’ve seen in leadership in the past 30 years?”
I didn’t have to think about it long. “The biggest change I’ve seen isn’t in leadership,” I replied. “The biggest change is in followers. They don’t think of themselves as followers anymore.”
When was the last time you heard someone say, “I’m a follower?” or “I follow my leader”? We “follow” differently on social media, but that’s where it ends for most.
Nobody wants to think of him- or herself as a follower at work. They think of themselves much differently, despite how manager and leaders think and talk about those on their team.
Today, the people you lead want to be recognized as team members, contributors, and collaborators. They recognize their relationship to a manager on the org chart, but think of that as only a line of authority. Being considered or treated as a follower is likely considered as negatively as a customer service rep feeling treated like a servant.
The way you talk about those you lead affects how you think about them. If you want to improve your leadership effectiveness, begin by recognizing how those you lead want to be considered, called and treated.
Do you need to think differently about those you lead?
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