3 Ways to Become a Leader People Love to Follow
A friend told me he wanted to get married. I asked, “What makes you the kind of person someone would want to marry?”
There’s nothing noble about wanting. Nobility is becoming worthy.
People don’t quit bad companies, they quit bad bosses. 94% of employees plan to stay at a company when they have a boss they love to follow. WSJ
The simplest nonjudgemental definition of a leader is someone with followers. What makes you the kind of person people love to follow?
3 ways to become a leader people love to follow:
#1. Enjoyment.
I like being around people who enjoy stuff. Are you a curmudgeon or do you show joy?
Brene Brown teaches that joy requires courage. Most of us experience ‘foreboding joy’. When you feel joy, you start looking for something bad to happen. We don’t let ourselves feel joy because we’re afraid of losing it.
Let yourself be joyful. Grumpy is easy. Joy is magnetic.
#2. Excellence.
The leader people love to follow pursues excellence. Mediocrity doesn’t inspire. Average is normal.
Worry about your own excellence first.
Forget about inspiring excellence in others when you tolerate mediocrity in yourself.
4 ways to pursue excellence:
- Fall in love with something.
- Learn every day.
- Share your personal goals. Transparency is attractive.
- Get a few remarkable friends.
#3. Self-awareness.
Notice your impact on others.
- Are people glad to see you?
- Is there any laughter in your conversations?
- When you look across the table is anyone smiling back at you?
- What’s the energy level of people after spending time with you?
Don’t simply want it. Earn it.
How can someone become a leader people love to follow? What can you add to the above list?
Still curious:
10 Ways To Be a Leader People Choose to Follow
I think there is one big overriding thing that leaders need to focus on.
Helping people achieve their potential and be successful. If you make that your mission you will have loyal followers.
Powerful comment, Paul. Exhibit positive intention toward others.
The concept of foreboding joy is a new one for me this morning, and got me thinking of psychological safety. Embracing the courageous action of joy and vulnerability with a team can feel like a risk (especially if it’s a change from team norms). Encouraging and growing those behaviors can empower growth for the teams that I’ve been on that fully embrace it.
You bring up an important perspective. Vulnerability is challenging because it requires courage. It’s risky. Nothing is more important than the leader modeling the way. Some may join in quickly. Others test the waters. Perhaps a few have something to hide, so vulnerability is out of the question.
Thanks for you insight, Brandon.
Playfulness comes to mind. If the leaders is not having fun, experiencing joy, why would anyone else? Excellent.
As a leader, it’s imperative to consider this: when someone chooses to follow you, their success becomes intertwined with yours. It’s a win-win scenario where mutual success is the ultimate goal.