Marsh Carter’s Leadership View #3:
A leader must balance accomplishing the organization’s mission with responsibility to followers.
As Vistage speaker Rick Eigenbrod reminds us, the one thing all leaders have in common, followers. When we forget this is the most important characteristic of leadership, we look around and there is no one behind us. While the mission may be what is driving us as leaders, have we stopped and asked what is driving our followers?
Remembering that all we humans act in our own self-interest, the organization’s mission must resonate and must matter to each and every one of our followers if we are going to get there. It is a delicate balance between being out in front because we have the vision; and inspiring our followers to move forward because they see what is in it for them.
In the best of circumstances, we as leaders inspire and our followers are the ones who accomplish the mission.
My question for you is:
What are you asking today to confirm that your followers understand and are driven to accomplish your mission?
The initial results of my Pivot are excellent. I feel I have much greater clarity regarding the next 3-5 years.. 