Are you really a leader or Really a FOLLOWER...No not your Image

**Sourdough** · 09-14-2009, 01:11 AM

Everyone thinks they are a leader, but are you....? Could you, Would you....?

No one thinks they are a follower, but are you....? Could you, Would you....?

Has this changed over your lifetime....for you......?

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 09-14-2009, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by Sourdough

Everyone thinks they are a leader, but are you....? Could you, Would you....? I have been and would again IF I had to

No one thinks they are a follower, but are you....? Could you, Would you....?
I think this is where I am at my best as a STRONG follower
Has this changed over your lifetime....for you......?

Yes it Has. When I was young I was pretty much a loner,didn't like big crowds or even most groups. That still applies somewhat today. I joined the Army and advanced and eventually HAD to assume the role of leader. I do not believe that there are "Born leaders". some people are born with Charisma but that is different than being a leader. I think that True Leadership is a learned skill, No different than learning to start a fire, ID plants,etc...

**doug1980** · 09-14-2009, 02:34 AM

I have been a leader and a follower. It is my philosophy that you must learn to be a good follower before you can be a good leader. Was I a good leader...well who really knows. I did what I thought was right, I tried my best to think about what was best for those under me. You will never make everyone happy all the time, so I never tried. I think the best quality a leader can have is to not be afraid of failure. At one point or another you will fail, you will make the wrong decision, that's part of it. A leader must know himself and his own abilities before he can understand and lead others.

**Rick** · 09-14-2009, 06:49 AM

I don't think you could have asked a more convoluted question. It is one that has been asked and debated for hundreds of years and there are no less than a half dozen current leadership theories (Trait, Functional, etc.). You have to define a leader first before you can assess if you are one and good luck in finding a definition everyone can agree on. Having said that, a leader is someone people choose to follow.

Poco, I'm going to disagree with you. I think there are only born leaders. You cannot learn to be a leader. You can only learn how to be a better leader. I would suggest that you were always a leader. You either did not recognize your leadership traits at the time or you simply were not in a position to exercise them. But you ability was always there.

Yes. I am a leader.

**Pal334** · 09-14-2009, 06:56 AM

Everyone thinks they are a leader, but are you....? Could you, Would you....?Yes I have and am. As Rick mentioned, this skill has changed over time, evolving as circumstances required.

No one thinks they are a follower, but are you....? Could you, Would you....?You can not lead if you are not a good follower. There has to be the "Big Bull" in the mix who provides direction down through the chain.

Has this changed over your lifetime....for you......?The general concept for me has not changed. Just improvements in knowledge and experience through trial and error, Doug said it well, can not be afraid to fail.

**wareagle69** · 09-14-2009, 07:37 AM

i don't have the personality to lead, i feel that if you have a job given to you then do it, don't #itch about why or howcome you didn't make so and so do it, or how hard, what ever man just do what i fn asked you to do, simple if you don't like it bugger off.

would you follow me? i am used to a group of comrades who accompished the job that was given to them, have not been able to find that trait in many since.

**panch0** · 09-14-2009, 09:08 AM

While growing up I always got into fist fights whith one of my cousins. He was a born leader and I guess I was too. We were the two older of all of our cousins who grew up together. We are best buds now and both have leadership positions in our jobs. I sometime get folks angry when doing group projects cause I end up leading the pack to get the project done. So I guess I am a leader. I am also a good follower. When given a task I make sure I get it done correctly and efficiently. So I don't know what it make me now.

**wildWoman** · 09-14-2009, 10:18 AM

Definitely neither, just a boneheaded loner. I am the alpha of the 4 dogs, though.

**SARKY** · 09-14-2009, 10:30 AM

I guess i'll throw a wrench in the topic! I really don't think that it breaks down to leaders and followers, I think the breakdown is more about team players and loners. The reason i say this is I've been all 4 and can be at a moments notice if the situation requires. Most loners can't or won't be team players and as such won't lead nor follow. A team player on the other hand will look at the team, size it up and see wether he/she needs to lead or follow. In the Navy I had to attend LMET (Leadership Managment Education Training) once I became a senior Petty Officer. Some people are inheritly team players while others are selfish children. this was proven out to me in the class. Anyone who is a team player can assume a leadership role if the circumstances are right.

**SARKY** · 09-14-2009, 10:41 AM

One more thing, A good leader knows when to delegate authority and when to hand over leadership when the situation calls for it.

**owl_girl** · 09-14-2009, 11:38 AM

in a situation that im confident i can and have been a leader. i enjoy being a leader in some situations and prefer to follow in others depending on how much experience i have and how much the group has and the amount of confidence i have in my ability to keep a cool head in the situation or if some one ells is able to deal with it better. i think ive been both equal amounts of time and i like both.

it has seemed that a lot of people here like to puff out their chest and proclaim themselves loners and leaders (and im not saying that they aren't) but i think theres a lot to be said for a competent follower. being a follower dose not mean they cant think for themselves or that they cant be independent. both leading and following are just different ways of taking care of the groups needs.

**trax** · 09-14-2009, 11:57 AM

I don't know that the original premise is correct, that people automatically assume that they're leaders. I think one of the problems with modern life is people are too willing to count on someone else to take control of whatever the situation is and lead them.

As far as being either goes, I'm going to do what I'm going to do, if someone wants to follow me, that makes me a leader. If someone else started doing it ahead of me and I tag along, that makes me a follower. Indifference to that particular dynamic informs my decision.

**owl_girl** · 09-14-2009, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by trax

if someone wants to follow me, that makes me a leader.

or stalked

**Sarge47** · 09-14-2009, 12:48 PM

I'll let others decide, but great question. Along with leadership goes great responsibility. I believe in a "team" effort, with everybody deciding what to do. Having others place their lives in your hand is a scary idea, yet, society leads us to believe that being "the leader" is a lofty goal that we all should ascribe to. More experience does not, nessasarily make a good leader, good people skills do. Experience can, however, make one a good teacher; that's what I aspire to be.

**crashdive123** · 09-14-2009, 01:18 PM

It’s been my experience that many people that consider themselves leaders - are not. Conversely, it has also been my experience that many people that do not consider themselves leaders – are. Fortunes have been spent and collected teaching leadership skills. It’s my belief that those courses/classes/how-to manuals/etc. merely help bring out the leader that is trapped inside. For some, it may never escape. If it does, it may not be able to lead an expedition of one to the other end of the couch. For others it provides a means grow. Some of the greatest leaders ever known probably never took a leadership training course. Of course, the traits that are believed to make great leaders are discussed and attempts are made to emulate the. There is a huge difference between possessing knowledge of leadership skills and actually being a leader. As has been said by many others, under fire you will find out who the true leaders are.

To answer your question directly - I am a leader. I also know enough that at times there are others better and more qualified than I to lead in a situation.

I am a follower. I also know enough that at times I must step into a leadership role when I am better and more qualified than others to lead.

I think my view has evolved over time. The military certainly influenced my thoughts on it, but so has my time in the civilian work force. Probably the key has been maturity, experience and time. (Boots in the field - if you will)

**2dumb2kwit** · 09-14-2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by owl_girl

or stalked

LOL.....that's funny!

As far as the leadership thing......sometimes I lead, sometimes I follow. Just depends. To me, the important thing, is to know when to do which one.

**bulrush** · 09-14-2009, 03:14 PM

I have to disagree with Sarge: in a suvival or military situation, a democracy is probably the worst leadership model. In order to get things done there must be a chain of command. You will notice that as the US congress got bigger over the past 200 years, less and less actually gets done. Also, in a democracy, not everyone has all the knowledge or experience to make a proper decision about a given topic. Some are experts and the experts need to make the decision for that topic.

Also, if you have 2 leaders fighting for control of a group, then generally, nothing gets done, or very little.