What's Next?

                It Simply Is Not A Cookie Cutter Answer

I believe one of the most perfect times to lead is when I am challenged to stay in the game - when I desire change in my current arena.  In my experience, too many people want to run (and do run) when the going gets tough. Rather than quitting, this is, again, the perfect time to lead, to express myself consistent with my values, to show up even bigger and to make an even more significant difference.

“Leadership is congruent self-expression that creates value.”

The time to move toward something new, to stretch and move on to a different arena in which I imagine I may experience new or different challenges and opportunities, is when I have everything working in my current endeavor. Of course, when I have everything going well where I am, my opportunity to mentor and grow other leaders, and to contribute even more, is at its peak. Perhaps doing this, as opposed to moving to a new arena, is my next brass ring.

Conversely, leaving when I am in resistance to my results, whatever they are, is a sure indicator that something about me (and it is always about me) is unresolved. For those who subscribe to and understand the notion that, “As a leader I know I am the source. I own my results”, the obvious dilemma is that I am almost certain to recreate results similar to the ones to which I am currently in resistance wherever I go, at least until I resolve what I judge as “not working”. I think this idea is well captured in this parable:
"In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.
 
Some of the King's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.
The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.”

I believe a leader who is truly skilled at the emotional craft of leadership knows when it is time to lead (to create change consistent with her vision, when it is time to follow and/or when it is time to manage (to keep the game going smoothly within the existing structure). Wise leaders are not always leading. To me, following one of my people who is headed where I want to go makes great sense. Not only may I experience ease, I may learn a great deal about leading. The level of emotional intelligence required to be an exemplary leader, one who others want to follow, is learned and earned in large part through mastering how well I follow.
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Leadership is not merely a collection of skills, nor title or position. In its purest form, leadership is a mindset. When I am leading, I want all my followers wearing the mantel of leadership, including making appropriate choices about when to lead, manage or follow. I also want them to be discerning about the difference between leading to create (including moving toward something new or different) and rebelling in resistance to their results.
Part of the responsibility of a leader is to distinguish between the two and to help others do so. There is no cookie cutter answer for everybody. “What next,” is an important question for leaders to ask and answer at several different junctures in their lives. There are many approaches for making such a decision. When you think you have arrived at such a juncture, please remember Phil and I remain available to help you differentiate.