A Leader in Title Only? How do you relate to leadership authority?

That was a good hike. We should stop and scout out tonight’s campsite.

“We can see the summit. Just a little farther and we can be there!”

And by the time we get there what would we see?

“A beautiful sunset no doubt! From atop the mountain. We need to keep going.”

Think about that for a minute.

Thought it through?

“We don’t have time for this. We need to go if we want to make the top today.”

Let me ask you something…

Remember the story you told me about the fishing trip you took after your grandpa passed away… that you used to honor him?

“Yes. What about it?”

I think you missed another lesson you could have learned because of that experience. Am I the leader of this excursion?

“Yes.”

You’re hear to learn correct? You asked to come along with me… right?

“Yes.”

Ok. I say let’s scout out a campsite for tonight and I’ll show you something about yourself. That’s why were here isn’t it? To get to know ourselves.

“Alright. Alright. But we’ll miss the sunset.”

Hey. Turn around…

We’re getting faster at set up.

“Want a cup of coffee?”

Does the grass green up in springtime?

“Do you ever just give a straight answer?”

Depends…

Ready?

“Ok. Drop some wisdom on me old man.”

What was the lesson you learned on that fishing trip?

“Don’t set up camp under a dead tree.”

Good lesson. What caused you to set up too close to the one that cracked it’s top in the storm?

“What do you mean?”

Reverse engineer what caused you to set up camp the way you did. What was the first thing you did that contributed to your narrow miss?

“I didn’t think the tree was that close.”

Before that.

“I grabbed the first spot I saw.”

Before that.

“I came off the water late, close to dark??”

And what caused that? Were the fish biting?

“No. It was pretty slow. I had a few eaters though.”

Then what caused you to come off late?

“I… I… I can’t really recall. I was kinda thinking about my grandpa all day.”

There it is.

“There what is?”

Youthful distraction. For good reason, but still… youthful distraction.

“Youthful distraction?”

Due to your age and experience you inadvertently put yourself in harms way by becoming distracted. And out here, or on a cold lake, if you become distracted it could mean life or death. Take your eye off the ball out here and you could be dealing with hypothermia, a broken leg, or a bear.

When a new leader becomes distracted by his new found authority and holds it closer to his heart than his necessary duties and responsibilities it could lead to a quasi death for the new leader.

“How so?”

Ever hear the term, “In title only…”???

“Sure.”

Then you know when a leader is a “leader in title only,” he doesn’t have any real authority. Either he is that way because of his superiors and they use him as a puppet, or… he’s a jerk and the staff do not respond to him as their leader and so… still… he has no authority. He’s prancing around with his title and perceived authority… like a slobbery dog with their favorite, beat up, chew toy.

How do you respond to the leaders in your life?

Do you respect the position and the person?

Do you respect the person but treat the position as if it isn’t needed?

Do you respect the position but don’t give the person the time of day?

Check your attitude in those situations… they are like a mirror for your personal character.

What did your reaction to me wanting to stop for the night reveal to you about yourself and our current “follower and leader” relationship?

“I can be distracted easily. I get excited and want to keep rushing ahead. Instead of acting calm and deliberately, I act anxiously and decide rashly. I’m only thinking about the “right now,” like I might miss something if I don’t hurry up.”

Very good. Why don’t you put that in your journal notes for today for discussion at the end of the trip. We can finish up supper and look for that bear in the sky.