Do you try to be a hero or are you a leader?
Superman is known for his strength and superpowers. He does all the work. He can save people all by himself without the help of anyone else. Why shouldn’t he do all that? After all he’s, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Some people may die when Superman does his work, but he is a superhero and will save the world from bad things.
Leaders on the other hand empower others. Leaders don’t do all the work on their own, but instead inspire other people to create something amazing, to work towards a cause, or to move a project or humanity to a better place. When a leader is present, everyone works and often together. Gandhi is known for renouncing violence and empowering others to do the same. Really, what good is creating anything for people if everyone is injured or dead? JFK is known so well for asking people what they can do for their country. He empowered others. When a leader is truly leading, people aren’t left behind, but brought along and inspired into action.
In the design practice we also see these two extremes. We talk about genius design and design as the silver bullet. We also talk about participatory design and user innovation.
The distinction of these two extremes occurred to me during a leadership class I recently took. It wasn’t explicitly part of the curriculum, but it occurred to me how much time I’d spent trying to be a hero in my work when I thought I was being a leader. Trying to be a hero only worked out so-so. I’m now committed to empowering others in their work and ideas. I don’t always do this perfectly, but I sure find I’m more relaxed and able to cause and create new things I didn’t think were possible.
What about you? In your work, are you a hero or are you a leader? What has worked? What hasn’t?
There are 11 comments on this idea.
I believe ...
Leaders ...
* Are informed through learning
* Create and build trust
* Make people feel good through inspiration
* Gel people together towards something better than the individual
* Don’t play dirty politics
* Like people
* Smile
* Are tough but fair
* Think about a community before themselves
* Contribute
* Don’t blow their own trumpet ... too much :)
rgds,
Dan
[...] Do you try to be a hero or are you a leader? Superman is know for his strength and superpowers. He does all the work. He can save people all by himself without the help of anyone else. Why shouldn’t he do all that? After all he’s, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Some people may die when Superman does his work, but he is a superhero and will save the world from bad things. Leaders on the other hand empower others. Adaptive Path - Thursday, April 30, 2009 [...]
[...] Do you try to be a hero or are you a leader? Superman is know for his strength and superpowers. He does all the work. He can save people all by himself without the help of anyone else. Why shouldn’t he do all that? After all he’s, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Some people may die when Superman does his work, but he is a superhero and will save the world from bad things. Leaders on the other hand empower others. Adaptive Path - Thursday, April 30, 2009 [...]
Great post!!!
I had the essence of these two extremes floating around in my brain when I wrote a post about leadership a little while back. There are so many people in my life and in the world that I hope will read your second paragraph. Thanks for helping me articulate my thoughts!
[...] Do you try to be a hero or are you a leader? Superman is know for his strength and superpowers. He does all the work. He can save people all by himself without the help of anyone else. Why shouldn’t he do all that? After all he’s, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Some people may die when Superman does his work, but he is a superhero and will save the world from bad things. Leaders on the other hand empower others. Adaptive Path - Thursday, April 30, 2009 [...]
inspiring post, i can relate. can you recommend the class you took?
It was The Self Expression and Leadership Program through Landmark Education.
IMHO, Good leadership lives in helping team doing work effectively and fruitfully, it would be great if he/she achieve this by as less self-express ( as a hero or master ...) as possible. And he/she should invoke the team’s passion on their work as the same time.
[...] Do you try to be a hero or are you a leader? Superman is know for his strength and superpowers. He does all the work. He can save people all by himself without the help of anyone else. Why shouldn’t he do all that? After all he’s, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Some people may die when Superman does his work, but he is a superhero and will save the world from bad things. Leaders on the other hand empower others. Adaptive Path - Thursday, April 30, 2009 [...]
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