on Sep 28th, 2004
Leadership, Loyalty, and a Test
Many people, it seems, end up as leaders. They might be leaders of community, religion, employment, or the ever popular “other.” However, as has been widely document through the ages, there are always two types of leaders: the great and the awful. But it has recently occurred to me that there is at least one sub-grouping within the “awfuls” –the oblivious and the well-meaning. Here there is often overlap, sure. There are the leaders that are awful and just don’t care. Then there are the leaders that seem to really, really mean to lead well. Their aim is the greater good of their followers. Sadly, they just don’t realize that what they are doing, in a well intentioned way, is killing off their followers, destroying loyalty and community, yada yada.
If you ever find yourself as a leader and wonder if you might be one of the “awfuls,” simply ask yourself if you’ve ever had to end a conversation with the words, “Well, I’m the (pick one: General Manager, Bishop, President, Cub Leader, Lifeguard, Other), so that’s they way it is.” The answer will be pretty self-evident, and you’ll then realize what your followers have already known.
Ummmm. Mr. testMonkey sir? (she says timidly, raising her hand …) are you okay? Bad day at work? Becoming disgruntled with some supervisory figure or govermental lackey type? What brought this particular rant on? Been exposed to too much Election year rhetoric? My advice is to eat chocolate and try not to go postal.
Also re: Mrs. testMonkey’s little statement about Jr. Is this an announcement or a statement of intent? Can someone warn Auntie testMonkey that she’s about to turn into another auntie organutan. Please! (pretty please?!) I’m already a spinster howler moneky as it is.
(slinks off grumbling about happy married type monkies….. BAHHH HUMBUG! ;) )
Well, Auntie testMonkey, the post was precipitated by a particularly bad staff meeting at work. And the statement by Mrs. testMonkey about testMonkey Jr. amounts to nothing more than an inevitability. No announcements at this time.
Auntie Orangutan says she figured that’s what Mr. & Mrs. testMonkey were planning –what with married bliss nigh on these many years, ticking timepieces, and the inevitable arrival of little nephewmonkies from gamblingland. Don’t worry about spinster auntie; she is just adjusting to allll the pregnancy hormones floating around her office, family, and friends. She is VERY glad to JUST only be an auntie and never ever EVER TO INFINITY planning to spawn her own. (Why subject the world to more of that angst and issues?)
Sorry about bad staff meetings. I hear ya buddy. OH, I hear you. I have “quit” many times during staff meetings, but alas my notes were never submitted and the screaming in my head was never heard by anyone but me. I don’t have this nifty blog to vent in. It’s so bad, I might wreck the Internet.
Listen to Norah and calmmmmmm down. That CD is so mellow — it’ll chill you right out.
Hehe…monkeys…