Guide versus leader-what’s the difference? Maybe you’re looking for a person to show you the way. Or help you shape what the world means to you. You might say to yourself I don’t need a leader I need a guide. Let’s just see about this…
The talk on leadership has become increasingly popular so let’s shine a light on what leading might really mean.
Real talk here… there are plenty of people who have no business leading others since they’re really unable to simply lead themselves. But they’re in a position of leadership so they’re kind of leading but are they really leading? Plenty are there, out front, leading and directing for the self esteem enhancing it gives them and the power to make decisions that will affect many. Maybe you’re in that boat yourself or you’re on a team led by someone like that?
Let’s tease something apart here. Words are interesting in how they provoke different thoughts in different people. In one way it doesn’t really matter. What’s important though is it what do things means to you? I do believe that neuro linguist programming is a worthy topic of examination.
What we speak indicates what we think and those thoughts provoke different feelings and sensations inside of us-it’s all connected. I’m not a linguistics guru, by any means, but I do know that all of that makes up the meaning of things. And meanings definitely matter.
One word that I’ve always been fascinated with is “leader”, the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country. Leading therefore is what we should all look at then, right? For me, there are a lot of people are leading but not all of them are leading from the same place.
Let’s say you run something… your life, a team, a company. Leading any of those or anything else for that matter might mean that you’re in a position to shape something in the world.
That’s okay. The word and phenomena of “leading” is pretty loaded at this point. Is it too masculine… pointed, egotistical, and associated with the whole alpha mentality? I argue here that we have a pretty clear distinction between a leader who is serving that group, team, or company or serving themselves. Humility in serving the group or ego to gain something for themselves.
Who doesn’t have an enormous amount of unhealthy examples of leadership? Leadership has fallen far from the service that it once was meant to be. When leadership is seen through the lens of gain and self oriented enrichment the whole system suffers.
Here’s another facet, I know how to lead, I know how to push and drive. Yet, I’m not always sure when it’s best to drive and kick ass or to stop and listen. At a certain level it’s not about hustling anymore, it’s about modulation. When do I discern? When do I slow down?
Anybody been curious or had the desire to climb Mount Everest?
Just try this on… does a Sherpa who helps others to the top of Everest guide them or lead them? Hell, maybe both?
Either way, the Sherpa knows how to approach things like climbing a mountain in deadly situations to actually reach the destination or to know when to call it on a day due to weather. Right now in the world, five different Sherpa have summited Everest more than twenty times. TWENTY!!! I think at times that’s what I need-a guide who knows the way and has been down the path I’m looking to go down many many times.
“Without Sherpas, most climbers would not be able to get up the mountain.”
My argument is that a guide has been along a path many times but isn’t currently headed to where you are other than to help you. A leader is headed to the same place they’re just the one at the front forging the way.
Leading is a hierarchical process while a guide is more of a non biased entity that’s holding a broader and more objective mindset. Both are important but even more important is how and when to utilize each role.
The opportunity:
What do you consider yourself, a guide or a leader?
Which do you need more in your life right now? (A guide or a leader)
What’s the difference between good and bad leadership for you?
What style of leadership works best for you to follow? Lead with?
Thanks for your time, have a great day!