I was recently described as, “Leading from behind.” I think it’s true. Something that I’ve always felt but never really explicitly coined like that. Now that I think of it, maybe it’s intentional. I let the person who wants to talk, talk. I don’t seek the recognition, although I do acknowledge the importance of its utility. Staying employed, promotions, credibility, etc. I’m content with not speaking. I know people feel uncomfortable in the silence. I’m fine with the pregnant pauses. If I have nothing real to say, I’m fine with not saying anything. I tend to speak when it’s necessary not because it’s expected.
Maybe this is how it shifts? Usually someone will speak first, then when I’ve found the words to say, it usually opens up a space of curiosity, people seem receptive to it, open to it, ready for it. Is this leading from behind?
As a “leader” I feel more compelled to follow curiosity and intuition rather than certainty, process and pretense. I start from the place of not knowing anything and follow the thread where ever it may lead. And it usually pays off, this method is definitely not for those that need certainty and process. I look at the projects we’ve accomplished in the past few months, although I haven’t lead from the front I see my intuition, curiosity, vision in them. Following a hunch. Following an intuition. Leading from behind. My contribution, expressing the abstract in material words. My thoughts, conversations, input, insight, intuition shared with intentionality, directional but open, abstract but precise, curious but with conviction.
Curiosity. Intuition. Conviction.