I just had a moving and puzzling experience during a meeting with a group I've been a part of at work. We got together a few months ago because we were all looking for feedback and support for our writing. Our meetings came together naturally, and in no time, we built an inspiring, motivating, and warm mini-community that was often the highlight of our week.
Today, some members of the group mentioned kind of matter-of-factly that I was the group's leader. And I said "Huh???" We have no titles, no structure, and my knowledge and experience level are way below many of the members'. So this got me thinking: either I'm an "emergent" leader, or it is a group with shared or shifting leadership. 
Emergent leaders are individuals who naturally gravitate toward organizing or facilitating. Some say every group has one. In my group, I tend to be a bit OCD about organizing our notes and plans (a role I always saw as secretarial). But my own experience has been that of a member, not a leader (as I'm used to defining it). I feed off the other members' enthusiasm and initiatives, and try to compliment their strengths as well as I can. And we all bring different things to the table. Some people encourage us to open up more. Some are best at making sure we all meet up, some challenge our thinking, and so on. In short, it is a group of leaders.
If that's really the case--and I think it is--what does this tell us about leadership? Maybe (as anthropologist MWesch) is fond of saying, we have to rethink a few things. Especially, especially with the advent of collaborative tools and equal access to information, can we still look at organizations and leadership in the same way? I think we may have to rethink groups, rethink participation, and rethink leadership.
I joined a ZogSports softball team as an individual and got placed on a team. I usually run most of my teams, but this one I specifically did not want to manage. That's why I signed up as an individual, and didn't create a team. I just wanted to be placed on a team and just get some games in without managerial overhead.
Fast forward to our first game. We've all chatted by e-mail, met each other for Dallas BBQ already... but no one has taken the lead. We were minutes from gametime and the ump asked for our lineup card. Everyone just stood there looking at each other.
Guess who's been managing the team for 5 seasons now. :/
Leadership: When you think you're out, it pulls you back in.
Posted by: Charlie | June 23, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Charlie - that's hysterical! Have you ever had experience as a non-leader? I wonder if it's like a compulsion we have.
Posted by: Tania | June 23, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Sorry, Group McPotayves, but you're not getting my signature on your petition. Texting is a way for us to manage the information and communication overload that modern humans-and in particular modern human students-have to handle. It is quick and simple communication.
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Instead, he says, what matters are than the services be well run - in particular, that they “get the rigsdfht people on the bus”, people of ability and motivation.
In this respect, hospitals and schools have a huge advantage over many private sector jobs.
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