Don’t Fool Yourself by Leading Co-Dependants
I have long posited the notion that the test of true leadership is whether or not you can lead volunteers. I won’t go into detail now on why I believe that statement is true. There is not enough time or space to cover my thoughts in a blog, that topic is for my future book (if I ever get around to it.)
But, I do want to address the one caveat to my premise – co-dependants. Co-dependants by nature will do anything to please you, or, as in my NFP (faith based) world, God. Even if God isn’t asking for this level of validation of their commitment to Him.
Co-dependents come in all shapes and sizes and will often go to many levels of sacrifice to obtain your approval, or, some self imposed ideal of what God requires of them.
How then do you tell if you are a leader or just have a group of co-dependants following you?
1) Realize that we are all crazy (co-dependant), but some of us are crazier than others.
2) Ask your friends – your true friends.
If you don’t have any friends to ask – consider yourself crazier than most and if you are leading, it’s probably just a group of co-dependants.
So as a touch point, be wise enough to look at the folks tagging along – are they emotionally healthy? If so, you might just be a leader.
Rabs
posted by Rabs @ 9:37 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Excellent observation Bones. By the way, since two of you are contributing you might say in the title "by Rabs." This way one can do a search for Rabs and find all your postings...which will be valuable. Keep writing from the heart.
Good thought! Since most of us are "co-dependent" to varying degrees, it's likely that in most groups of volunteers that one leads, there will be at least some who are co-dependent. I think if you're leading a group of volunteers that is at least 50% healthy and not categorically co-dependent, you've got a great group of volunteers to lead!
Rabs, thought you once said, 'Give me two co-dependants and I can reach any campus'. I am now disillusioned.
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