A Leader Is Best When Non Existent
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- Date Submitted: 11/17/2015 11:48 AM
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Amanda McMahon
Helping Skills
Reflection on “A leader is best when people barely know when he/she exists”
I feel that when it comes to being a leader that it is true that the leader is best when he/she doesn’t exist. I honestly believe that by being nonexistent as the leader is that you do nothing but you’re also fully present with your client. One of the most difficult lessons that I learned when I interned at Emergency Services in Salem MA last semester was trying to resist from jumping in to give advice when one of my clients was struggling. I had to learn that the better way for me was to become more comfortable with those intense situations even when my client was not and I had to learn to trust my client that they would be able to figure it out without me jumping in to save them every time. I am still not always great at being quiet because it does take time to become fully aware of that. This will continue to be my goal for my future career.
I also feel that being a leader and being nonexistent helps the client feel that they did everything themselves which can make a difference in someone’s life. I believe this a positive way for someone to be able to take control for all of their hard work and their achievements. I know as the leader I would feel really good that I helped to make someone’s life a little better just by being their physically for my client and not verbally and allowing them to take full control over their own life. A really good quote that I found is “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him....But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, ‘We did it ourselves.’” - Lao Tzu
Helping Skills
Reflection on “A leader is best when people barely know when he/she exists”
I feel that when it comes to being a leader that it is true that the leader is best when he/she doesn’t exist. I honestly believe that by being nonexistent as the leader is that you do nothing but you’re also fully present with your client. One of the most difficult lessons that I learned when I interned at Emergency Services in Salem MA last semester was trying to resist from jumping in to give advice when one of my clients was struggling. I had to learn that the better way for me was to become more comfortable with those intense situations even when my client was not and I had to learn to trust my client that they would be able to figure it out without me jumping in to save them every time. I am still not always great at being quiet because it does take time to become fully aware of that. This will continue to be my goal for my future career.
I also feel that being a leader and being nonexistent helps the client feel that they did everything themselves which can make a difference in someone’s life. I believe this a positive way for someone to be able to take control for all of their hard work and their achievements. I know as the leader I would feel really good that I helped to make someone’s life a little better just by being their physically for my client and not verbally and allowing them to take full control over their own life. A really good quote that I found is “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him....But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, ‘We did it ourselves.’” - Lao Tzu