There has been so much said and written about the importance of leadership in this day and age. We, ourselves, do a great deal of it weekly on both our web site and blog.
Leadership is critical—that can’t be argued. However, not everyone can be or should be a leader. Thankfully, there is a very valuable role for those who choose not to lead or may not have the qualifications of a leader. The support of these folks is crucial to any endeavor, and they should indeed be proud of the role they play. We’ve witnessed many an organization fall by the wayside because they had far too many leaders than followers. As a result, the leaders had no one to follow them and disaster followed.
The following “Generational Gem” by my favorite author, “Anonymous,” illustrates the pride we should all feel in our supportive roles at work, in our family, church or community. It may also bring a smile to your face.
Bobby was auditioning with his classmates for a school play. His mother knew that he’d set his heart on being in the play—just like all the other children hoped too—and she feared how he would react if he was not chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, Bobby’s mother went to the school gates to meet her son. The little lad rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. “Guess what, Mum?” he shouted, and then said the words that provide a lesson to us all, “I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer.”
About Harry K. Jones
Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.