How Leaders Become Leaders

The Directing Staff (DS) taps the Syndicate Leader on the shoulder.

‘Handover',’ the DS announces.

The Syndicate Leader salutes the DS, and calls us in from wherever we are on the line of march the Syndicate Leader mapped to our destination. We gather around the DS, who announces the Officer Trainee taking over as Syndicate Leader.

The outgoing and incoming Syndicate Leaders detach, with the assessing DS observing and writing. Outgoing briefs incoming for ten minutes in the standard format on all the incoming needs to know to take over. The incoming madly scribbles in their notebook. The DS briefs the incoming on ‘new’ Mission orders.

The new Syndicate Leader has a few minutes alone to process and adopt the information received, and jot down notes for their Syndicate Brief.

They shout, with the DS hovering and evaluating: ‘Syndicate! On me!’

We know the routine. We form a tight semi circle, mindful that while each Leader is being assessed on Leadership, the DS is assessing us on ‘Followership’.

The Officer Trainee who ten minutes earlier was lazily dragging a stick and cracking jokes just loud enough for the Trainee in front to hear, is now The Leader.

‘Listen Up! This is a Brief! Save your questions until the end! Situation …’. The New Leader methodically mimics the tight SMEAC script in word and delivery. Situation. Mission. Execution. Administration and Logistics. Command and Communications. Appointing who will be her Second in Command, who will be Navigator, who will Pacer One and Pacer Two. Concluding with ‘Are there any questions?’ Two of us raise our hands to ask soft questions that she can answer. We want her to look good as we know we’ll have our turn in her shoes.

The Syndicate Leader finishes by asking us token questions in her ‘Check of Understanding’. The DS writes. We answer obediently, demonstrating not only we’ve listened, but that she’s The Leader. We each know our part.

The new Syndicate Leader is in charge. She’s our Leader. We will follow her.

Why?

Because the DS Tapped Her on the Shoulder and said ‘You’re Leading.’

Because the outgoing Syndicate Leader and DS gave her Information We Don’t Have to get Somewhere We Don’t Know.

Because with every step the Leader takes, her Navigator and Pacer give her more information than us, building both her knowledge of the terrain, and confidence.

Because we Know How to Play the Game. We trail passively behind, growing ignorant and less confident, and thus more dependent on the Leader with every step. Surrendering our adulthood and agency and initiative and curiosity. Growing weaker. And thus ever more grateful for the Leader’s protection and favour.

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls.

How every organisation is run.

How some get the title Leader.

Annointed.

Given access to information.

Gaining more information from their access to information.

While the rest of us play the game learned since we lay helplessly on our backs in our cots, waiting to be picked up, fed, and cuddled.

What to do?

Leaders: Define Reality. Recognise your anointing. Stay humble. Serve.

In short: Do good work.

The rest of us?

In short: Do good work.