An Avatar of Leadership

     Why has this website been devoted to Leadership? Why this website when a plethora of information on leadership (and volunteerism) is out there? Because it is personal! I am an avatar of leadership; this website is an avatar, one that embodies a philosophy of leadership. A philosophy adopted by a youth professional who found himself almost constantly at odds with his coworkers, those who wanted to do things the old way and with those who practiced the good old boy mentality. It is a website for sharing philosophies of leadership (I trust) that will spark the imagination of a new generation of youth and adults. Those who want to try innovative ideas, separate from the rest, work or volunteer in organizations where leadership is on a horizontal plane (instead of a rigid ladder) and not be demonized or bullied for exercising their principles. 

     And, so, for the next three blogs, I will be focusing on principles of leadership I have adopted and profess. They are basically codes of conduct that give me (and have given me) direction in the discipline of Leadership.

      

Principles of Leadership, Edition 1.

I begin a look at Leadership with principles relating to the positional leader. If we work in or do business with large organizations we soon or later come into contact with the person who is a leader simply because of his or her position.

Some leadership principles, regarding the positional leader, we all should consider are as follows:

    1. A leader, by reason of his/her position, (a positional leader) has job security based on title, not talent.

    2. A positional leader may be in control because he or she has been appointed to a position.

    3. People will not follow a positional leader beyond his or her stated authority.

    4. Positional leaders have more difficulty working with volunteers, white collar workers, and younger people.

     Followers of positional leaders are like the little boy who was asked by Billy Graham how to find the nearest post office. When the boy told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, "If you'll come to the convention center this evening you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven." "I don't think I'll be there," the boy replied. "You don't even know your way to the post office."

                                    - from Leadership 101, Jon C. Maxwell