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Unread 18-10-2008, 22:58
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Re: FAHA: Leader or Troublemaker?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bharat Nain View Post
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He/She continually assumes the role of leader at competitions and stops at nothing to be sure that he/she is the front-runner for the team. [b]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What you described did not sound like someone who is leading, except in the sense of pushing to front of lines.

Give the person who needs to learn, an opportunity to serve; and when they do it well recognize and reinforce the behavior. When/if they drop the ball in order to let an audience see them in front of the team they should be serving; quickly and politely correct the situation and place the person(s) who was assigned those public-facing or coordination responsibilities back into carrying out those duties.

Talking a lot or standing in front of a crowd are not a leadership positions, they are visible positions. Taking decisions or coordinating activities are not leadership positions, they are positions that need folks with subject matter expertise and good organizational skills.

True leadership doesn't necessarily have a title/position. True leaders working for the greater good, serve others, often very quietly, instead glorifying themselves.

Ask the person if they want to be a leader, and then describe and show them what that means. It is a lot of hard work and not so much glory. They are likely to be surprised when they find out that you are not talking about telling people what to do or being team spokesman. Instead you are talking about them helping/inspiring the team spokesman to become better.....

Be sure that the entire student/mentor team is not confusing visibility with leadership and then take it from there. Maybe this person will make a good spokesman, if... they will convey the messages of the team's leaders.

Blake
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