Read twelve short tales that explore lessons in leadership between the Lion and the Leopard. Each focuses on key principles from leading with commitment and trust to sustaining a transformational vision. For summer reading, try engaging in one tale per week and reflecting on the questions concluding each story. That’s one tale per week, four weeks per month, for three months. While it is not necessary to read Volume 1 in the order listed, they are intentionally sequenced indeed.
1. Between the Lion and the Leopard
Humans make decisions much like the animal kingdom does. A health system leadership team battles for control of their destiny. Who will win, the lion or the leopard?
Leaving the mountain of vision is a dangerous – and predictable – transition. You can’t take it with you, but you have to help others experience it in order to affect real change.
3. The Problem of the Crown Physician Chief
Leadership roles can be designed for success or flawed from the start. In this tale, no one seemed to survive serving both the clans and the crown.
You must balance being with the people, with yourself, and with a higher purpose along the way. One small building tried to be that window into the soul.
What does it mean to lead like a lion? It’s not all glamour and power. In fact, it’s all about the team, and often times means sacrifice. And that’s exactly what this leader did.
It’s easy to be outnumbered if you’re not on the same team as the others you’re trying to lead. This leader not only accepted an unfair stereotype about their colleagues – they hung it on the wall.
7. The Tortoise and the Flower Farmer
People often blame the person or thing in front of them they least understand. Innovation and change requires trust and understanding. This village learned the hard way.
Strategy needs to be eaten every day in order to survive. It can’t simply be a prolonged stretch with no practice or near term gratification. Take it from a hyena.
Leadership can get lonely. But often times leaders isolate themselves together – and don’t even realize it. It was time for this team to tear down the door.
The most effective change leadership is when everyone is committed together. It may sound hard or unachievable at first, but it can be taught and even normalized. Are we together?
The worst deal is when both sides lose. Yet that’s often how leaders with different styles and incentives go about the business of leadership. You have to learn how to help each one fly and hunt at their best.
At some point in any strategy or innovative endeavor, you’re going to need to take a leap of uncertainty with mustered courage. It may not be perfect. You may fail. But many will follow – you just have to cross.
Good luck on the adventure. To life well lived, meaningful leadership, and an intentional legacy.
