What is a reluctant leader?

We have a leadership problem. It is easy to write that, because I know you have run into at least one leader or manager that you didn’t like. One of the things that gets drummed into you from all the books and classes is that all the good and bad in an organization is a result of the leadership. What is always amazing is how many ineffective leaders exist and worse yet, that they are tolerated. 

The reluctant leader

Let me introduce to you the reluctant leader. This is the person who is passionate about what the organization is doing and what he or she can do to achieve more. People seek them out because of their experience and expertise and because they are part of the team are easily approachable. There is a level of humility that comes from a genuine desire to serve the greater good and that conscience is a critical part of what makes the reluctant leader a potentially great leader.

Why are they reluctant?

Reluctant leaders do not identify themselves as leaders and certainly not managers. They are deliberately choosing to forgo a power position because they are happy with the way things are. We all have had experiences with bad leaders and reluctant ones don’t want to become one of those! Reluctant leaders have many of the qualities, readily established relationships and subject matter expertise that set them up for success. If only they saw themselves as others do.

Reluctant leaders are hesitant because they have yet to recognize that what they have to offer is actually better than the alternatives. With the right support, they can transition to a leadership role with authority and make a huge difference to all the people and things about which they already care.

What makes reluctant leaders different?

It is not uncommon the hear people talk about “natural born leaders” as if leadership is not a skill, even though it is! Reluctant leaders need to be shown how they are already a leader in the organization and that a formal role does not have to significantly change all the great things they are doing. Certainly, there are new things they will need to do and fulfilling that responsibility, while potentially challenging is actually executed with more humanity than overly eager leaders. The reason some of the “HR” type tasks are seemingly more difficult to a reluctant leader is because they are highly motivated by their conscience; the team has always come first; they have deep relationships with their people. This is not to say that eager leaders don’t have these things, it is more that these conditions are generally more common for reluctant leaders.

Motivated by conscience, people and passion

Reluctant leaders are often identified by their position within the group and are selected to fill vacancies where a different motivation would be a less optimal choice. Leadership teams have additional homework to coach reluctant leaders through new and challenging experiences. Left to their own devices, reluctant leaders would step down from the formal organization, remember they didn’t choose it, it was chosen for them.

Next steps: Actions that change everything