It is quite annoying to walk with only one shoe. If you clap with one hand, you will not make much noise, and if you resort to eat with just one chopstick, you’ll probably get hungry.
A similar principle plays in most of our lives, and leaders must understand this.
They must recognize the value that “the other” provides.
Because of this, leadership is many times not about going alone, but about teaming; about making something possible out of what would have been impossible on our own.
But also, working together is not just working on the same thing at the same time. When one foot rests, the other advances; one chopstick stays put, while the other pushes against it; and if two hands clap, the way they meet, changes the sound.
Understanding your role in a dynamic way, is absolutely necessary to get the best outcome, and knowing when to shift, is a quality of a good leader.
Who’s your other?