Taking control is when nobody is given any choice. You are told what to do. For a short time this can be necessary, but if a leader takes control for too long, it leads to imposing rigid rule, intimidation, and finally force to maintain control. The organization becomes highly political and less productive. It is easy to take control but very hard to lead. If an organization is run by corruption, taking control may be justified. However, if an organization is thriving and productive, there is no need for taking control. This leads to a second kind of leader.
Taking charge does not take away the choice from others. It is purely your will to act alone. It is a form of leadership where one person takes on a job to make something happen while everyone is left standing around. When surrounded by apathy, a take-charge person gets the job done that needs to be done. A take-charge leader does not lead with rule, intimidation, or force. They lead with example by taking action to get important work done. Take-charge leaders either work alone for the rest of their life, or they must decide to take control or take the path of a third option.
Taking responsibility is that third option. Taking responsibility is the organized consent of all involved. The challenge with taking responsibility is to give others consent, but you cannot give consent right away. Taking responsibility begins first with giving others the freedom to take charge. Eventually comes the liberty to add value, and then finally consent. With greater value added and more consent we have more productivity.
At Local Common Wealth, we help you take responsibility, and we focus on one goal, to help you create a thriving culture with less power struggle.
Choose now one option.
Option A: Leadership that is hard to control buteasy to lead.
Option B: Leadership that is easy to control but hard to lead.
If option A, stick with Local Common Wealth. Subscribe to our Bullets Points and attend one of our networking meetings and invest in one of our Co-spire teams. You are now on a path to creating a more thriving culture with less power struggle.
