Complex Numbers

Getting the Lead Out

PROMPT November 19th

What characteristics do you admire in a leader? Is there or was there a time in your life when you took on a leadership role? Research different leadership styles and describe which style you would most like to follow. Which style are you? When you are in a leadership position, do you exemplify the qualities you admire in a good leader?

A good leader leads by example.

I am a Bad Example. I even printed up "business" cards with my name followed by "Bad Example." I also had such phrases as "Millionaire Playboy" and "Evil Genius."

Basically, I don't want to be a leader. I don't like it. The benefits don't outweigh the constrictions, for me. I admire those people who can do it, and maybe they're more appreciative of the admiration of others than I am (thus changing the cost/benefit analysis). But there's one thing I hate more than being a leader, and that's being a follower.

Of course, I've done both, especially in my engineering career - though when I ran a business, it was with a partner, so a lot of the "leadership" things were shared. But I tried to set a good example for employees by following the same schedule as, or sometimes a more hectic one, than I expected of our employees. "Never expect anyone to do what you won't." I didn't have that in a boss; all my previous employers thought that it was just fine to expect us to work 8 to 5 while they could show up at 10 and leave at 3. Just to use one example. Of the two modes, I decided I preferred being in charge - not for any perqs (the higher salary was nice, though), but just because when I make the rules they are, by definition, not idiotic. Perhaps my employees felt differently; I don't know. I suppose not knowing makes me a bad leader after all. In any case, preferring it doesn't mean I enjoyed it.

Fortunately, life isn't binary, and I choose Option C: going my own way. It's enough to be responsible for my own situation, and I'm not always so good at even that.

There are, of course, other qualities that define good leadership. The ability to delegate is one. And I don't just mean foisting off work on just anyone, but matching peoples' strengths to the tasks at hand. I wouldn't assign an artistic type something that's math-heavy, or the other way around. Knowing what people are good at is important. Knowing what they could be good at, given a chance, well, that's even better, and I wish I were better at it.

Another thing I'm terrible at is motivating people. I like it when people motivate themselves. Any attempts I make in that direction always seem hollow to me. But I think good leaders find ways to motivate their team, though how they do it might as well be sorcery for all I understand it.

Anyway, yeah, this is kind of rambling, but the bottom line is: don't look to me to set examples, unless you enjoy drinking at bars.