Leaders should learn to follow

[bastet]

i agree with this; I;ve never learnt to follow but as a teacher I need to know how the follower responds and to sort out a couple to find out if the problem lies with the lead or follow. It is better to play one musical instrument well than two badly; but the occasional bit of following in a practica or class will give you some understanding of how it is to receive a clear lead.

But I can follow, but it just happened no one taught me.

this does bring up another point about learning the other role.

I happen to believe that, especially for people who are or want to teach, it would be next to impossible to diagnose problems properly without some adequate understanding of how it feel to do the "other side". If a leader who teaches doesn't follow, or doesn't even follow adequately, I'd say it'd be pretty hard for them to tell where a problem is coming from, or even if the problem is from their own lack of ability in the other role.

As I said before, I don't believe that just because you can lead a particular step would imply automatically you know how to follow it, nor have the reverse be true. You'd have to train your muscles for the "other side" in both cases.

 

[AndaBien]

Agreed. Guys do not have to be good follows, but, I do believe that good leads need to understand well the follow's movements and needs.

Yes, for me, this is the point. I can follow, pretty well, and I was never taught, but I have no desire to be a follower. I just think it's important for leaders to understand the lead/follow situation from both viewpoints.

It's something like physicians who have been patients have become improved physicians, by understanding the patients viewpoint.

 

[Steve Pastor]

Well, shouldn't it be obvious that a six-year old Nepali kid who's been trained from birth would be better at something that's part of Nepali culture than an expat Yank would be?

Then I'd have to say about the same for someone who grows up in an "Argentine Tango culture".
How often this happens now a days, and how much we can emulate the same mannerisms, etc, is what is in question.
With substantial, sustained effort, I think it's possible to get there.
I wonder though, because, as another example, when I get tired, or have a few drinks, my Western Pennsylvania accent becomes noticable. "You can take the boy out of McKeesport, but..."

The leader on our trip repeatedly complemented my rudimentary Nepalese, which I spent two months studying before the trip.
I'd like to think I have a decent, rather than comical, head waggle, too.
I'd like to think the same about my tango.

 

[Steve Pastor]

It's something like physicians who have been patients have become improved physicians, by understanding the patients viewpoint.

In a word - empathy.

 

[dchester]

In a word - empathy.

Exactly. Being a patient doesn't necessarily help the doctor diagnose illnesses any faster, but it does help with his empathy.

 

[Steve Pastor]

And....
It is now being documented that there are actual, measureable, effects that result from, let's call it, being treated differently, that can influence the outcome of treatments.
So, all other things being equal, an empathetic doctor could/should be a better doctor as measured by the outcome(s) of his/her care.

 

[bordertangoman]

Exactly. Being a patient doesn't necessarily help the doctor diagnose illnesses any faster, but it does help with his empathy.

And I is a witchdoctor!

 

[dchester]

And....
It is now being documented that there are actual, measureable, effects that result from, let's call it, being treated differently, that can influence the outcome of treatments.
So, all other things being equal, an empathetic doctor could/should be a better doctor as measured by the outcome(s) of his/her care.

Agreed, however being a patient is not the only way for a doctor to acquire empathy.