Groups and Leadership - Christine Cho

I definitely can see how my leadership style changes depending on the groups of which I am a member.  I feel that I am more effective in groups I lead and it is difficult for me to be a follower.  I  am in the Netherlands this week working on a project that I am not leading.  We just wrapped up day one and I found myself taking on a leadership role in the project because I couldn't stand behind and just participate.  One thing that I do notice is that it is easier for me to take charge a group that I have not worked with for a long time.  I am more focused on the required task and not distracted by personal relationships.  At my own site, I find it difficult to lead my own group of colleagues because we have worked together for years and are also clsoe friends.  One thing I have definitely noticed is that I feel less engaged when I am not leading a group, which is probably a sign that I have control issues.  However, I am able to give up control if I feel that someone in the group has more subject matter expertise than I do.

In family groups, I definitely regress to the same role.  I am the middle child and I always find that I am the mediator in the family.  In my family group, I always find that I am willing to make more compromises than I would at work.  In our family, my sister takes a leadership role because she is the oldest.  When we were younger, my dad used to have more of the leader role but the family dynamics have changed as we have gotten older.  With my closest friends, I notice that we all have preferences on things we like to take the lead on.  My friend Jane likes to plan dinners out while I like to plan trips.  Our friend, Julie, normally chooses the food we order at restaurants.  We each have a role and it doesn't change over time.  We each take the lead on things we feel most passionate about.

In observing other leaders, I noticed that leaders always set direction and keep people focused on the bigger picture.  Effective leaders are able to establish a strategy and explain to their followers why they decided to choose that path.  Sometimes leaders emerge based on their Subject Matter Expertise.  When we did the survival exercise, Josh was the leader because he knew what we needed to do to survive.  The first question he asked our team was whether we wanted to stay in one place or take the hike.  Once he established his expertise with the group, we all let him lead the effort.

I think I am comfortable leading, but there are also days where I am ok sitting back and just being a follower.