Last Monday’s note was a heavy one about mass shootings as the inevitable result of people in positions of power wielding their influence to incite violence.
Honestly I have never considered influencers to be leaders. Influencers, sway. They don't actually DO the work. They sway the workers. Leaders DO. Leaders get their hands dirty. They take action. Influencers have followers while leaders create community. I don't know a lot of leaders but i do know a LOT of influencers. Leaders are rare because it takes a lot of grit and courage to lead. Takes a lot of filters and fluff to influence.
Ooooh, I like how you are framing the differences here. I esp. like the difference between having followers vs. creating communities. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!
I think you've laid out what makes me (and likely many others) so frustrated with politics. Very few seem to have the courage to be a leader - to put their community first and forgo personal interest. It always seems like there is an ulterior motive. That is as true at the local level (thinking school principals even) as the national.
Yep, totally, Melanie. And I'm definitely not the first to draw these conclusions. Thinking of MLK saying we need leaders in love with justice and not money. I think we need a way to incentivize acting for the greater good, but we also need better ways to filter out those unfit to lead due to extreme self-interest.
Honestly I have never considered influencers to be leaders. Influencers, sway. They don't actually DO the work. They sway the workers. Leaders DO. Leaders get their hands dirty. They take action. Influencers have followers while leaders create community. I don't know a lot of leaders but i do know a LOT of influencers. Leaders are rare because it takes a lot of grit and courage to lead. Takes a lot of filters and fluff to influence.
Ooooh, I like how you are framing the differences here. I esp. like the difference between having followers vs. creating communities. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!
I think you've laid out what makes me (and likely many others) so frustrated with politics. Very few seem to have the courage to be a leader - to put their community first and forgo personal interest. It always seems like there is an ulterior motive. That is as true at the local level (thinking school principals even) as the national.
Yep, totally, Melanie. And I'm definitely not the first to draw these conclusions. Thinking of MLK saying we need leaders in love with justice and not money. I think we need a way to incentivize acting for the greater good, but we also need better ways to filter out those unfit to lead due to extreme self-interest.