Child-like Leadership

I was in a conversation over the last 2-3 days that discussed a decision needing to be made, and a subsequent letter needing to be drafted and sent.

What I found amusing was leadership works from the adage, “If you come up with an idea, be prepared to execute.” I look at this as child-like leadership. Sort of like, “It’s my ball, so I get to be team captain.” No regard to the fact you suck as a team captain. No regard to the fact the person with the idea may not be the best person to implement the idea.

I remember working in law enforcement, as a fairly new copper. I got sent to accident investigation school because I loved the intricacy of determining the cause of a traffic collision. Because of my high school major of architectural drafting, I loved to draw the scene diagrams by hand. It’s all technology today.

One day at a major accident, spread across both lanes of a street and field, my Sergeant at the time told one officer to do the report, yet told me to draw the diagram. The officer inquired, “Why him?” The Sergeant responded, “Have you seen him draw?”

It was a lesson in situational leadership from the Sergeant and a recognition of mine and the other officers’ strengths.

So next time someone has as idea, as a leader search, inquire and determine who is best to carry it out. Who knows…the decision may default to you because of position and title.

Or, you may be the strongest candidate.