Sometimes Leaders Need to Get the Boot

Today I stood up to a guy right in front of his boss. I challenged him, the former leader, to change his position and give up his position of power. He had fallen from that position though no fault of his own, yet, he didn't deserve the power that he desired.

Yep! I challenged a 5 year old today, right in front of his dad. Here's what happened:

Jason, this little boy who I challenged is at school first nearly every day. He takes his rightful position of line leader. This means that he is the first boy in his class to enter the school after the kids walk in a straight line in from the parking lot; where they say The Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Today, as in the last few days, my son Jeremy and I thought that he was going to be first but right before he got there, another boy landed the coveted position. Today, it was another boy, Cory. Every day, my son Jeremy takes the second spot and doesn't grumble.

Today, the first kid was Cory, and Jeremy was second. When Jason arrived, he plopped his backpack on the line right in front of Cory. I started chatting with his dad and his son got comfortable. That's when I had a decision to make. Did I challenge the kid in front of his dad? Was it fair that he gets used to being the leader every single day even though he didn't deserve it today? I decided YES.. I was willing to challenge his position.

So I said to this 'future leader of America', "you know Jason, you're going to have to get behind Jeremy today because you weren't here first today". I turned to his dad and said, "Yah, you know how important the line leader is in kindergarten!" I then said to Jason, "Jeremy wants to be the line leader every day, and you beat him every day and so you get to be it! Today it's Cory's turn since HE was first". At the very suggestion that he wasn't going to be in the first position, Jason tried to enroll his father at taking his position. He told him he WANTED to be the line leader? PLEEEAASE!!" His dad made him move and Cory moved back into first. Jason wasn't happy, but he obliged.

Okay, so maybe I stuck my nose in a place where it didn't belong. Maybe I'm pushing competitiveness among the kids. But, perhaps it's what gets my son MOVING in the morning. It's the GOAL that he wants to achieve. He WANTS to be line leader. He WANTS to get dressed because he might get to lead the line into the school that morning. So for us, it's worth it to get rewarded for a job well done. It's my way of teaching Jeremy goal setting and how good it feels to accomplish what he achieved.

I liked it also how the parent accepted my challenge. He was fine with my correction and he supported me. Of course I was nice about it, but I keep hearing how parents aren't doing what is right by their kids. So many of them don't WANT to interfere and so they don't. Could it be that they just don't want to take responsibility? As parents, we should be willing to be involved. After all, we are their role models.

Yes, I stuck my neck out for the kids. I didn't let the usual leader return to his position when he didn't deserve it. And I know that tomorrow, Jeremy WILL be the line leader, even if we have to get up 1/ 2 hour early!

How about in your life? Is there anyone in your company that doesn't deserve to be where they are? Are they still in a position that they shouldn't be? Have you been patient long enough?

Have you considered that it might be time to demote that person and to ask them to take a step backwards? Is there someone you need to encourage to go into counseling? Is there anyone whose drinking habits are running interference with their work? Do you think it may be time to realize that they are doing more harm than good to your company?

Managing people takes care, concern and a lot of planning. It takes dedication to knowing the strengths of the people you manage and knowing what they can handle and what they can not.

And when you approach the leader who isn't pulling his weight or needs a bit of encouraging to get with the program, make sure you are direct, sympathetic, and of course respectful.

Because who knows, YOU may be the next one who will be challenged to wake up and get going.

Mary Gardner is an Executive Communications Consultant and Coach. She works with, coaches and trains individuals, sales teams, executives, and celebrities. She enjoys seeing the best come out in people and has fun in the process. Mary is married to Sway and is mommy to Jeremy 5 and lives in Orlando, FL.

For More information: mary@marygardner.com
WEB: www.marygardner.com

---

Professional Organizations: Join or Fold?

All of us join professional organizations for a reason--a friend... Read More

Leadership: Seed or Fruit?

Purpose: Learn immediately if you are fostering leadership or ignoring... Read More

Blowing Your Own Leadership Horn

There are two streams of competitiveness running through every organization.... Read More

Leadership Skill Training

Quality leadership is a positive asset that is needed in... Read More

Leadership Like Water-Water Canoeing

Although world business is undergoing historic changes, the prevailing view... Read More

10 Smart Ways Leaders Can Bring Out the Best in Others

You are a leader. Everyone is a leader. It doesn't... Read More

The Personality of Leadership

Have you ever wondered what type of person or personality... Read More

5 Leadership Power Principles!

95% of Workers Fail Because of This...But They Can Fix... Read More

To Be An Effective Leader, Do A Check-up From The Neck Up

Before we can effectively lead anyone, we must take an... Read More

Stand Out as a Leader, Do 5 Things Better! Number One: Improve the Quality of Your Decision Making!

The manager administers, the leader improves; the manager maintains, the... Read More

The Challenge to Lead

The topic of leadership has been and continues to be... Read More

In Leadership, Dreams Are The Stuff That Great Results Are Made Of

Leadership is motivational or it's stumbling in the dark. The... Read More

A Call to Men to Live a Strenuous Life!

Any man would be justly proud to claim even a... Read More

Leadership and The Dirty Work

The airline, Jet Blue, has been featured in many magazines... Read More

Leadership For Deep Results: Without Them Are You Wasting Your Leadership And Your Life? (Part Two)

How does one go about getting deep results? There are... Read More

Ask Yourself Whats In It For WE?

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working... Read More

F2 Leadership

People don't leave jobs; they leave bosses. -- AnonymousCongratulations. You're... Read More

The Goals of Leadership Coaching and Partnerships

Webster's Dictionary describes a "partner" as an ally or an... Read More

7 Excellent Ways To Improve Your Leadership Skills!

Did you know that there are 7 really effective yet... Read More

It Begins Like This

Jonathan was drunk multiple times before ever completing elementary school;... Read More

The Leadership Talk As A Living Hologram

The hologram is a three-dimensional photograph made on a flat... Read More

Leadership Success and its Greatest Barrier: the Law of Administrivia

Years ago, a very wise, and often cynical boss of... Read More

Recommended Books on Leadership and Team Building

The single most important thing a leader can do is... Read More

Coaching a Leader

One of my favorite memories growing up as a child... Read More

Three Factors Of Leadership Motivation

Leaders do nothing more important than get results. But you... Read More

Act on Some of the Facts

Making any decision without having all of the information and... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 5, Dominant Participants

While dominant participants contribute significantly to the success of a... Read More

Three Growth Guidelines from Stephen Covey

I have been looking for answers to what it takes... Read More

Character -- Why It Matters In Leaders

"Character is much easier kept than recovered." -Thomas Paine"The best... Read More

Real Charisma, Clinton Style

What exactly is Charisma? Most would agree that it is... Read More

The Power of the Leader Within - The Keys to Martial Arts Life Mastery, Key#1

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"Remember... Read More

Choose Your Best Life: Where Are Your Choices Leading You?

According to the dictionary choice means "to select freely after... Read More

In Leadership, Good Enough Is Pretty Bad

The first time I meet a leader to decide if... Read More