There is not a void in leadership...there's a void of leadership!

 

We often think that there is a void in leadership.  That is not true. These positions are always filled quickly because it is human nature to look for leaders in our lives.  Whether that is in our employment, in our worship, in our activities, and even in our families.  The truth of the matter is that the majority of people are not comfortable existing in a situation in which they cannot look to others to find guidance, comfort or whatever form of 'leadership' that they need in their lives.

Were this not true, social media would be devoid of 'influencers'. Tik Tok would not exist if the majority were not looking for advice.  In my experience, more people ascribe positive characteristics to others before they ascribe them to themselves...hence the desire to look around for those role models. 

When we consider the workplace, these same trends or tendencies hold true. Executives are usually quick to fill vacancies.  But they are often slow to properly evaluate the competencies of the individuals that they place.  As often as not, they appoint someone who will not threaten their position, who will do as they are told, and who will do those things in a manner that raises the executive profile.  What the individual lacks in character or competency is overlooked for what they bring in terms of loyalty or allegiance.

This is the void of leadership to which I refer.  Today it seems especially true in politics, but it is actually evident wherever you look.  Those in positions of authority are simply unwilling or unable to build competent teams because they themselves are unable to lead.  T

here are two potential responses.

The first is that someone on the team will rise to fill the gap.  That doesn't mean that they become the leader. Rather it means that they become recognized by the others as the leader.  There can be positive or negative consequences from this recognition, but the team will fill that void.

The other response is that the best of the team leaves.  Rather than suffer fools, they will seek out opportunities to find that leader that fulfills the role properly...with authenticy, character and competency.

Where do you have leaders but a void of leadership?  In a complex world that sometimes feels like it is spinning out of control, look for authentic leadership grounded on the principles of character, chemistry and competency.  There you will generally find the foundation that you can build on and carry on!