One of my clients is leading a team of lions. Good. Nothing wrong with this aim. The problem? He’s too much like a lamb. He’s fallen prey to the modern leaders plight of passive aggression instead of performance aggressive. Here’s an old African proverb I read to my client.
“An army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.”
We need leaders with the energy/edge of a lion. Not angry, frustrated, or lone lions. We need connected, caring, consistent lions who love their pride and love to hunt. You cannot lead a pride of lions without showing your teeth. You cannot sustain the healthy growth of your system without, sometimes, having to go far from home to find food. You cannot protect your pride without taking the lead regardless your position in the family. We have too many sheep who roar like a lion when they’re hungry (end of quarter) but haven’t been leading the hunts, day in and day out. We need leaders who know they’ve got to do whatever it takes to feed us.You can’t feed us when hunting for small, easy wins. We need leaders who know how to hunt big game.
How are you leading the hunt? What kinda pride are you attracting? Are you leading like a lamb or lion? Show me your teeth, please.
Live hard. Love harder…
BUILT TO LEAD 