Comments on: What is a Leader? http://ericbrown.com/what-is-a-leader.htm Technology, Strategy, People and Projects Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:51:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John http://ericbrown.com/what-is-a-leader.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1062 John Thu, 28 May 2009 14:33:06 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/?p=2815#comment-1062 Excellent discussion Eric. I've long felt that leadership and being the 'manager' of the group are two very different beings. I believe leadership is exhibited at all levels of the organization, and many times, as you pointed out in your post, the supposed formal leaders are really not that at all. Rather, they are managers looking to get to the next level, irregardless of what the folks below them are doing - this behavior is opposite of true leadership. I look at leaders as my "go-to" people. They're the ones we can go to in a critical situation to lead through the obstacles, understand what needs to get done, lay out the strategy and then contribute/oversee the execution of the plan. In my opinion, this characteristic can be developed to some degree, but I do believe that some folks have an innate drive (whatever their level) to rise to this kind of calling naturally. Managers have formal power, but leaders possess an attractive pull on folks who believe in their demonstrated abilities. Excellent discussion Eric. I've long felt that leadership and being the 'manager' of the group are two very different beings. I believe leadership is exhibited at all levels of the organization, and many times, as you pointed out in your post, the supposed formal leaders are really not that at all. Rather, they are managers looking to get to the next level, irregardless of what the folks below them are doing – this behavior is opposite of true leadership. I look at leaders as my "go-to" people. They're the ones we can go to in a critical situation to lead through the obstacles, understand what needs to get done, lay out the strategy and then contribute/oversee the execution of the plan. In my opinion, this characteristic can be developed to some degree, but I do believe that some folks have an innate drive (whatever their level) to rise to this kind of calling naturally. Managers have formal power, but leaders possess an attractive pull on folks who believe in their demonstrated abilities.

]]> By: Anonymous http://ericbrown.com/what-is-a-leader.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1059 Anonymous Wed, 27 May 2009 23:25:05 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/?p=2815#comment-1059 Very interesting post, I love finding a good quality blog thats not full of rubbish. I would love to do a link exchange. Very interesting post, I love finding a good quality blog thats not full of rubbish. I would love to do a link exchange.

]]> By: Eric D. Brown http://ericbrown.com/what-is-a-leader.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1061 Eric D. Brown Tue, 26 May 2009 13:46:47 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/?p=2815#comment-1061 Thanks Glenn. You are absolutely correct. Our society does reward this type of activity. I'd submit that this type of activity is exactly why we are in the economic crisis we are in today...people in leadership roles haven't really cared about the outcome of their actions. Their focus was (and is?) on what they can do for their pocketbook and their image. There are some great leaders out there but you rarely hear of them...I wish that wasn't the case. Thanks Glenn.

You are absolutely correct. Our society does reward this type of activity. I'd submit that this type of activity is exactly why we are in the economic crisis we are in today…people in leadership roles haven't really cared about the outcome of their actions. Their focus was (and is?) on what they can do for their pocketbook and their image.

There are some great leaders out there but you rarely hear of them…I wish that wasn't the case.

]]> By: Glenn Whitfield http://ericbrown.com/what-is-a-leader.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1060 Glenn Whitfield Tue, 26 May 2009 13:42:32 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/?p=2815#comment-1060 Eric, Great article! Sad but so true, that many who think they are leaders are only concerned with how they can get to the next level, and being able to take credit for "leading" the group. What is sad is that our society rewards this behavior - the quiet, solid leader who is "making all the right moves", but doesn't stand up and say, "look at me!" gets cast aside. These leaders are out there, but most people don't know about them. Eric,

Great article! Sad but so true, that many who think they are leaders are only concerned with how they can get to the next level, and being able to take credit for "leading" the group. What is sad is that our society rewards this behavior – the quiet, solid leader who is "making all the right moves", but doesn't stand up and say, "look at me!" gets cast aside.

These leaders are out there, but most people don't know about them.

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