Great leaders Start Off as Great Followers

A care leader is challenged everyday in their professional lives as they are responsible for the co-ordination, management, and delivery of social care services to vulnerable groups. In motivating the team they develop, manage and support team members to achieve their potential while giving service users the best possible care.

A leader serves the team by providing the service of leadership. A leader is a team player. Everyone has responsibilities and everyone serves the other members of the team by fulfilling their responsibilities to the team. Humility means that the team comes first. Unfortunately the concept of servant did not align with my mental image of leader because servant is related to subordinate and the upside down reality did not make sense to me.

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make 
 tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. 
 He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of 
 his actions and the integrity of his intent.”

• Only good followers make good leaders. I didn't know I was a leader for years. I had to first learn to be a good follower. And I have no interest in following anyone who isn't himself a good follower.

• Everyone follows someone. The question is whether or not you are following the right people.

• Being a good follower is like ducking, so that accountability hits your leader. So following the right leader can be relaxing.

• Being a leader is filled with anxiety, stress and worry. Followers can better enjoy the journey. Leaders die younger.

• Followers make the leader. Without them, leaders have nothing to do.

• Followers are the people who get things done. Leaders may provide direction, but followers do the work. Leaders get more credit than they deserve. Followers will get theirs in the end.