Field Notes

In the face of ambiguity or uncertainty, leaders act. Leaders step up to the plate and take charge when they need to. If no one else is directing traffic or planning how to accomplish the goal, real leaders don’t wait. They do whatever is necessary to move things forward or to prevent balls from dropping and causing a mess. 

The bias for action is so strong in many leaders that they often take charge when they don’t need to. Leaders who feel a compelling need to be in charge are motivated differently than good leaders who have a bias for action. 

Those who must take charge falsely believe that without them things won’t happen. The bias for action gets translated to only I know the right actions to take. Taking charge when the situation calls for it is very different from the need to get your own way. The former is an act of leadership. The latter is an act of control and dominance. 

Leaders who have a deep-seated need to control situations and take charge are uncomfortable not directing action. They have a difficult time following the plans of others, preferring their own strategies and tactics every time. 

Delegating leadership responsibilities to others is typically a weakness. Their controlling nature requires them to own or approve every decision. They like to think of themselves as a Take Charge leader, but what they really project is a leader who has to get their way. Working for such a leader is both disempowering and exhausting. 

So how does a leader with a bias for action know whether they are actually leading or simply controlling by nature? The answer lies in how they follow. 

Great leaders are also great followers. They don’t always need to be in charge or direct the action. They are as comfortable being a member of a team as they are being the leader of the team. Leaders who demonstrate strong followership skills by learning from others, supporting their ideas, and taking their direction at times, build trust. When team members know a leader can follow as well as take charge, they engage openly with that direction and robustly execute the plan.

Being a great leader and being a great follower go hand-in-hand, and team members look for both qualities to confer the highest respect. The next time you take charge ask yourself honestly whether you have proven to others that you can follow, as well. If the answer is “No,” take charge of your life and make a change.