THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Leadership
“There go the people.I must follow them for I am their leader." - Alexandre Ledru Rollin

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Change How You Follow

Li Xin Bai is a Senior Strategy Consultant for IBM in China.

If you feel frustrated or uninspired by your leader, you're in good company. Many people are unhappy with the leadership styles of those above them. Rather than trying to oust or change your leader, it may be time to look inward. Accept what you can't change — your leader's style. Focus on what you can control — how you follow. If you have a manager who likes to have his hand in everything, don't resist the micro-managing. Instead, invite him to get involved. He's likely to include himself anyway, and bringing him in increases the likelihood he will support your work. If your leader is more hands off and fails to motivate you, find inspiration from the work itself or from others in the organization. Then, reflect back to your leader what you find most inspiring. You may be able to show him what you need by getting it elsewhere first.

Today's T&T is adopted from HBSP Management Tip's "Can't Change Your Leader? Change How You Follow" by Li Xin Bai.