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Dear Reader,
"The only test of leadership is that someone follows." This statement by Robert K. Greenleaf, founder of the Servant Leadership movement is very simple and true if understood in the context that Robert Greenleaf meant.
If someone follows simply because s/he would be in trouble with the leader, if s/he doesn't, then that's not true leadership. I would call that rather coercion and is a tool used by dictators.
If we combine it with the definition of leadership by Dwight Eisenhower: "Leadership is the art of getting others wanting to do what you want them to do", then I certainly would agree.
Today's article authored by Sebastien Henry will use an interesting metaphor for leadership, i.e. dancing Tango. I trust you'll enjoy it and find it meaningful.
Let's keep progressing!
Charlie Lang
Executive Coach and Founder of Progress-U Ltd.
Author of The Groupness Factor
Leadership Lessons from Tango...
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by Sebastien Henry, Executive Coach & Trainer Emotional Intelligence Expert for Progress-U Ltd.
 I just came back from Buenos Aires and my mind and heart are still filled with tango. Actually, I am eager to share with you some leadership lessons one can learn from tango.
To be honest, I did not go to Buenos Aires to do some applied research on leadership! I went there to learn tango. However, I could not help but notice the striking similarities of tango and leadership. Who would have guessed that tango lessons could be so applicable to leadership?
First lesson: If the follower doesn’t follow, blame the leader.
This is a tough lesson, but also a healthy and stimulating one. It is an idea you may want to challenge at times, or even rebel against.
In tango, anytime your follower “makes a mistake” and doesn’t follow as you expected, it is considered a clear indication that you did not lead properly, that your message or direction was not clear enough.
Some evidence here comes from observing a beginner follow a leader who is not really good at leading yet. Their dancing will lack harmony.
However, the same beginner dancing with a skilled leader will often produce beautiful movements. Where does the difference come from? It can only come from the quality of the leadership.
Second lesson: Leading is best achieved by merely opening the way and showing the direction, not by “pulling” the follower.
For example, a change of direction is achieved by the leader opening his chest and his shoulders, by opening the way to the follower, not by pulling the follower’s arm and body. If the way is clear, the follower will start moving naturally in the chosen direction.
Isn’t this very similar when it comes to leading people? I have lost the count of leaders I know who have become disillusioned or even angry after being constantly “pulled” by their top leader.
What is tricky here is that this top leader often is a strong leader who is admired by others (and by himself or herself!) for his or her drive, energy, and strength. The “pulling” or excessive aggressiveness can be seen as a mere collateral damage from all these qualities. However, pulling makes bad leadership, which is consistently reported as the main reason people leave corporations.
Similarly, in tango, too much “pulling” can often leave your follower frustrated and angry, impatient to leave the dance floor.
This lesson from tango can also be related to the principle of ownership that is so crucial in coaching. By opening the way and showing the direction, but not “pulling”, we leave the ownership to our followers.
This creates engagement, and most importantly, enjoyment. Being in close contact through my marriage to artists of all kinds, I have come to realize that the notion of enjoyment, both for the leader and the follower, while central in arts, is greatly under-utilized in business leadership.
I see it as a big pity, and a lost opportunity. This will be at the heart of two more lessons to be discussed next month in part two of this article.
In the meantime, I wish you the very best.
Warmly
Sebastien
Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss the content of this article. I am passionate about this issue and always enjoy sharing views and ideas.
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