Commanding or Leading?
Some people love badges, especially badges of authority. They love hats, medals, uniforms, big offices, and pageantry. If you stand back and watch them you’ll quickly see that these people are needy and insecure and use “bossing around” to feed their own deep needs.
And then there are true leaders. Many, perhaps most, of the great leaders dress and carry themselves modestly, eschew pomp and happily work out of very simple spaces. If you stand back and watch them you’ll quickly see that they rarely think about themselves and their own needs, but are constantly affirming everyone on their team and building them up. “If it weren’t for you girls and guys, nothing would get done around here!” is the type of thing you hear said constantly and sincerely. They love their people, they mentor, and they care.
Interestingly enough, leaders are there in the hard moments and step right up there where the bullets are flying. Commanders are more likely to be found back in the bunker, saving themselves for another day.
Are you a leader or a commander?