Every group has a purpose – some goal to achieve, an outcome to reach. Members work together to reach that goal, each according to their position and abilities. They develop, increasing their knowledge and strengths, as they learn and grow to fit the needs of the group. Family members start as children, unlearned and dependent. In time, they become adults who contribute skills and guidance to the group. Finally, to become the elders who share their wisdom and knowledge, molding the journey along the way. Each stage of development is directed by the common goal of furthering the family – accumulating wealth, experiences, and opportunities for all.
Corporations are no different. New hires become supervisors who manage departments and eventually join a board of directors all with their common goal in mind. Leadership is that quality in each member of the group which teaches, nourishes, and inspires development in the other members, as they strive toward their collective goal.
One of my favorite examples of a good leadership style is how a wolf pack organizes during long migrations. The old and the young occupy the central position where the older wolves can prepare the young for the future. A few of the strongest wolves are in front of the pack. The rest of the strong bring up the rear.
As the young wolves in the core learn and grow, they move out through the ranks to become teachers to the next generation. They have made the journey before. They have grown strong and wise through their experiences and now guide others toward good hunting grounds and water sources. The wisdom of such a style is undeniable. The focus is on the development of individual members to drive the group’s progress.
Wolf biologists continue to debate the exact hierarchy of the pack. But, if we look rather at the ideal this example represents, we get a better understanding of what leadership is. Strong, able wolves in the front set the pace, by encouraging others to do more. Old, sage wolves temper that pace, making time for training the young. It is this teaching, guiding, and encouraging other group members toward a common goal, while leveraging abilities to advance the group, that makes great achievements possible.
The grand design in it all is that the very back of the pack is where one would most likely find the alpha. The strongest, smartest leader has a view of the entire group, an eye watching for the destination and an ear listening for the future. A good team leader keeps this dynamic of exchange in mind. John Maxwell summed this idea up when he said, “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”