| User | Comment |
|---|
| phi |
What did everyone dislike about this survey so much? Oh. I don't remember it, and I've gone back and done them all, too. I guess it's just not a memorable survey topic. |
| lisashea |
I'm usually a leader, but I don't try to "enforce my will" I don't think. I like to organize, but I see what people would like organized first. I organize bike rides, or winery trips, or other things and see who comes along with me. I was just talking with Bill about organizing those museum trips for us all, maybe out to the Gardner museum? |
| lizzie |
I am usually a leader, and I don't like it. **MY APOLOGIES, this is a repeat from last December. I forgot to search first. Naughty me. Lynch me already. ** phi, I wish I knew. Some of us WANT COMMENTS, people! Positive OR negative. |
| reality |
I would rather be a follower, but most of the time (it seems)the rest of the group is futzing about pointlessly and I start trying to give direction. There seem to be few people that I am content to follow for very long. I have a low tolerance for time wasting. |
| kirst |
depends on the situations and those involved |
| hunter | | posted 5-Oct-1998 11:16pm |
I prefer to be a follower, but I prefer for there to be a leader and will do that when necessary. For a trivial example, when a group of are trying to decide where to go to dinner and there are several suggestions on the table but no clear consensus, I will often say "OK, let's go to this place!" and motivate everyone out the door in accordance with that plan, rather than continue to sit around with no decision happening. |
| Sybal | | posted 6-Oct-1998 12:04am |
I do my own thing....if someone wants to do something else...Im perfectly content to go my own way or do it alone.....I'm in a supervisory position at work but I don't 'boss' anyone.....You can't do everything you want to do in life if your always following people around, or having people tag along and cause distractions. |
| Mimi | | posted 6-Oct-1998 12:42am |
I try to do my share & be creative & take some of the more distasteful jobs in an organization. Sometimes I volunteer for jobs that I want to make sure don't get screwed up. I end up being editor of newsletters & treasurer or similar 'dirty' jobs with no glory. I have no interest in getting my picture in the paper (small town, y'know) or getting awards. I am quite content just to do my fair share. |
bill   |
reluctant leader - the best kind.  People who want to be leaders are generally not fit for the job. That's what's wrong with our political system, it's a career for those folks. It should be a civil duty that they perform in addition to their regular job (which they go back to after their term in office is up). |
| jjg |
I'm the guy standing behind the leader poking him in the back with a stick in an attempt to keep him out front. |
| jzp | | posted 7-Oct-1998 10:12pm |
"neither a follower nor a leader be." non-servaium. you know what is best for you. power-hungry freaks that WANT to lead sure as hell shouldn't. |
| seven |
There sure are a lot of leaders out there. This reminds me of that survey where 90% of the people claim to be better drivers than the rest. So, where are you taking me today? |
| dpolicar | | posted 13-Oct-1998 2:41pm |
Hard to answer.
I think of myself primarily as a follower -- I'm happiest when I'm with someone else who has a clue and I can follow their lead. Failing that, if there's a group of people I like to facilitate consensus about what to do and I'll follow that consensus.
If there's no direction that I'm willing to follow, I decide what I want to do and do it. I don't think of this as leading so much as striking out on my own... but sometimes people follow me. This is OK with me, although I've been in plenty of situations where the same people then berate me for "unilaterally taking over."
I have a very "systems" orientation towards life, which means that when problems happen I tend to propose relatively formal mechanisms for dealing with them. I've had people treat this as an attempt at control, even when the mechanisms I'm proposing are intended solely to give them what they said they wanted.
I've been told I'm charismatic and have a way of dominating interactions with people, although not everyone says this. On the other hand, I've been in plenty of situations where I just go along with the herd even when I'm not terribly comfortable, or agree to do what the other person wants even if I don't want it myself.
I'm often proposed for leadership positions at work, and often end up running projects de facto. But I loathe management positions and have turned down many opportunities to "move up into management" over the years.
It's hard to reconcile all of that into "leader" or "follower" or "sometimes/usually" one or the other.
If I had to summarize it, I'd say that if I have to choose between:
a) someone else's leadership (assuming I respect them)
b) my own leadership
c) no leadership at all
...I tend to choose them in that order. |
| nbarone | | posted 17-Oct-1998 7:40am |
neither, i suppose. I like to make my own decisions, so I prefer not to be in the follower role (although i happily will follow if i am on unfamiliar ground). I am too introverted to make a very strong leader. I am, however, in a leadership role in both my jobs (a reluctant leader - as bill says...) |
LindaH   | | posted 28-Jul-2008 5:13pm |
Neither. Being put in a position to be either one of these makes me cringe.  |
