The Big "F" Word

** This is a post from my other blog (”What is on Jeffrey Shepard’s Mind“). I just had to share this with other students and scholars and educators in the area of leadership.

I reflect on a week in leadership. As some of you know, I have been deeply involved in a PhD leadership program (this is why posts have been few and far between) and have learned a lot about myself and leadership.

In addition, I am caught up in a little topic that I believe is just as important as leadership…. “followership”. Funny, the big “F” word, a word that we spend very little time considering though it is just as important as leadership. Without followers, there would be no leaders.

So this week, while attending a “leadership” workshop, I stumbled upon a “consultant” who had all the leadership answers. I was quite amused by the leadership theory he used to amaze some in his audience. I sat back and thought about how I would challenge this “expert”.

I asked him what he thought about the lack of formal training and education in the area of followership? His response was very interesting, he 100% completely ignored my question. At this point I figured that my cover might have been blown. Many whispered about this but still nothing was ever said about that “F” word.

So he went back to his memory and quoting from the great “books on tape” of leadership. No mention of James MacGregor Burns or any of the other great theorist of our times.

So I went back to listening… and “following”…

As I reflected about my experience I began to understand why he didn’t respond. He was giving people what they needed and not what they needed to hear…I think that I missed my calling… There is quite possibly a place in consulting for me…

-j-