A few years ago while giving a talk on ‘Public Speaking’ I noticed somebody in the audience nodding his head vigorously in agreement with all I had to say. I was pleased and a little later in the day when calling people to come up and speak turned to this enthusiastic person and asked him to come over and speak. He shook his head. “Why not?” I asked. “Bob,” he said with a smile, “I’m a good listener not a good speaker!”
I was about to encourage him to come forward, when I suddenly realized that it was indeed so; that he had spurred me on with his nodding, had encouraged me with his smile and got the best out of me with his attentiveness. He was indeed a good listener.
A young woman was filling out an application for college when she came across the question: Are you a leader? She thought she had better be brutally honest, so she answered, “No.” She was convinced when she sent the application that she’d never hear from them because of that answer.
But she received a letter back from the school that read: “We have reviewed numerous applications and, to date, there will be some 1,452 new leaders attending school next year. We have decided to accept your application because we felt it was imperative they have at least one follower!”
A man bought a sign and put it on his office door. It read: “I’m the boss.” The next day he came to work he noticed that someone had written underneath, “Your wife called. She wants her sign back!” We can’t all be the boss. And what good are leaders without followers? In actuality, we need both.
In fact a good leader also needs to be a good follower too at times. Yes, the best leaders are also excellent followers. They know how to listen, they respect and follow great ideas from those around them, and they are humble enough to seek help when it’s needed.
I end with the same story I used in that particular meeting; the story of Jamie. Jamie was a little six- year old and one evening told his mother that he was going to audition for a class play the next day. His mother was quite tense through the next day, hoping her son would get a good role.
She went in the evening to pick Jamie up from school and waited outside the gates for her little boy to come out. The bell rang, the doors opened and Jamie was the first to rush out straight into his mother’s arms, “Mother,” he shouted, “I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer!” In a crowded world of leaders we desperately need followers, encouragers, who will clap and cheer..!
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