“Leaders and Apples”

When leaders enter an organization, they will acclimate themselves to the environment in different ways. Some will move in quickly and make their rules, “The Rules,” and some will observe first. To explain my take on this, I’d like to refer to the old saying, “Don’t upset the apple cart.”

Some leaders take out an apple at a time, observe it, see what characteristics it has and take the time to learn what it would be best used for. Then they develop a plan to cultivate this apple to help it grow and move on to something better or something else.

Some leaders will choose not to observe the apples. Instead, they take the apple cart, pick it up, and dump it.

Apples everywhere!

This leader upsets the apple cart. The apples don’t know what to do next. During this upset they find themselves unable to be useful in their current state.

They are unsure of every move.

Here they were in this apple cart, humming along and doing their part to help the organization grow and do well. Suddenly their part must not be good enough if it was necessary to throw them all everywhere.

There is something to be said about observing and finding strengths before you assume there are weaknesses and try to mold people into what you expect them to be.

There is something to be said here about allowing people to understand you, your purpose as a leader, your personality as a leader and your leadership style.

There is something to be said here about earning trust so that your new team will have faith in you and want to grow with you.

Thoughts?