One of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

I'm doing much better today.  Not really pingin' anymore.  Everybody's happy and thank you all for your prayers!  The thing that was totally stressing me out is done.  Sometimes you don't even realize what it is exactly until it's over and you're not stressed anymore.  A great night's sleep really helps, too.

Anyways, I've been reading this book that is totally uncharacteristic of my normal reading habits.  I usually read about how-to type stuff relating to home and garden mostly.  Sometimes schooling or relationships or psychology or art.  But not leadership.  I guess it's about time I learned some of this stuff, then.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership just turned up in my house somehow.
  I haven't read it straight through.  I sortof just open it randomly and get something for the day to think about.  It has been very insightful for me and I think I'm right on the edge of a great epiphany.  This stuff seriously applies to SO MANY aspects of life.  Motherhood being the main one for me.  But also churches and other organizations that we may find ourselves a part of.

Here's the thought for the day:  The Law of Empowerment.  This chapter has a big in depth story about Henry Ford II and the Ford Motor Company and the lousy leadership that crippled its success.  I normally don't care about that stuff at all.  But here's what got me...  "Only secure leaders are able to give power to others." Henry felt threatened.  His position was based not on influence but on his name and his family's control of company stock.  So he began pitting one top executive against another....  Lee Iacocca, who eventually left Ford, said, "Henry Ford had a nasty habit of getting rid of strong leaders."  The book goes on to describe why he would do that.  Why wouldn't he want to empower other capable leaders to make the company better?  Desire for job security, Resistance to change and Lack of self-worth.  Those are some of the reasons.

Here's the idea:  "Only empowered people can reach their potential.  When a leader can't or won't empower others, he creates barriers within the organization that people cannot overcome.  If the barriers remain long enough, then the people give up, or they move to another organization where they can maximize their potential."

Honestly, this is the main reason that I let my kids do their own laundry.  And cook in my kitchen.  And choose their own outfits.  And you-name-it.


"The only way to make yourself indispensable is to make yourself dispensable."

I think a lot of moms fear becoming un-needed.  Or dispensable.  Especially really committed, full-time moms.  As our kids get more and more capable, our skills seem more dispensable.  They can cook just as good as me.  And drive to the store for whatever they need.  It's really a weird feeling.  But I think that is exactly what is supposed to happen.  I want them to reach their full potential without having to leave prematurely.  Without feeling frustrated that they could achieve so much more if only I would let them.  I want to be a leader who empowers these young people in my organization.

On another note, I wonder how much sibling rivalry comes from this same sort weakness in leadership.  Do parents sometimes "pit their top executives against each other," rather than helping each one of their children reach their full, God-given potential?

Hmmm.  Now that's some pretty deep stuff!  It's new to me.  I've been on the receiving end of bad leadership plenty of times in my life, but I've never really applied my mind to figuring out what makes a good leader.  And how to be one.  Until now.

So, what do you think?