“I want to become a better leader,” Lawrence announced.

“Try becoming a better follower,” I suggested.

“I said Leader, not Follower,” he clarified.

“I heard you correctly. Become a better follower.”

“Follower of what? If I am a follower, who is the leader?” he pressed.

“This is not a chicken and egg game,” I said. “Every organization has its strategic intent. That is what you follow. You become a better leader by being a better follower of strategic intent. Your strength as a leader does not come from your position, but from your competence supporting strategic intent. An organization’s hierarchy does not come from position or power. Its strength comes from a hierarchy of competence.”