BECAUSE WE CARE, WE GRUMBLE? Well that is so for some

     I guess this is what I see re the tweet below - caring grumblers - but it is especially hard to receive and deal with unexpected criticism or worse, public ridicule. It is all too common and I do get frustrated, if not exasperated, and I've lead organizations in size from small groups to those between 120 to 2200 and even greater.
     "Supportive" Grumblers are in all organizations.  So, let's read the tweet that caused me to write today:  "Often the reason we get frustrated with people and argue with them is because we care about them, so remember not to get too carried away." -- Appreciate Gratitude (@2thank) on Twitter
     A common, shared vision, while understood in general terms, is viewed differently in terms of what actions and practices each member believes it will take to realize the vision.
     Another issue to getting to consensus is that it is common to have people join civic clubs, non-profits, projects and causes for a variety of reasons and levels of commitment, or lack thereof, to working on the vision and purposes of the organization.    
     The work to develop and maintain cohesion is always a leaders task, but it can be monumental in groups where even a single dissenting member can fracture cohesion, if not be outright disruptive.  Consensus can be difficult and progress stifled when one issue continues to set an undertone of contention.
      I must remember patience, consideration, and resilience is necessary to lead, especially volunteers and unpaid members of civic and other non-profit organizations.

Be the Leader People Want to Follow

"Be the kind of leader you would want to follow."
- Unknown 
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1. Good followers are finishers. They get the job done, take projects across the finish line and make things happen on their own.

2. Good followers anticipate. They understand what needs to be done next before having to be told, and they are always looking for ways to make the process better.

3. Good followers criticize in private and praise in public.

4. Good followers are trustworthy. When given an assignment, a leader can be assured it will get done. Dependability-this is incredibly important.

5. Good followers are vision copycats. They take on, embody and live out the vision and mission of their leader and of the organization, helping set and model a cultural standard.

6. Good followers make their leader better. They push their leader and know how to "lead up" appropriately and intentionally.

7. Good followers lead themselves. They don't need to be managed and aren't needy. They are self aware and don't need all the attention from the leader.

8. Good followers are principled. They are humble, disciplined and have complete integrity. They know it's not about them, and what you see is what you get.