Leaders, Followers, and …

Some people lead, some people follow, some people blend in. Those that lead stand out, if to no one else than to those that they lead. Those that follow rarely seek notice and if so they principally seek recognition from their leaders.

Those that blend in though are not so easily characterized. Perhaps they fear persecution because they are different. Perhaps they suffer from social anxiety disorders of one form or another. Or perhaps they just enjoy what they are doing and don’t want to be bothered with being responsible for the care and maintenance of followers.

Often, they are remarkably skilled at a skill that I think of as leading from the rear. They are able to influence nominal leaders such that they do what the person who blends in wants them to. Those influenced in this way are often wary of the person doing the blending in and yet they are influenced all the same.

I have, no doubt, oversimplified here. And yet, I think I’ve identified some stereotypes that are actually typical of any population large enough to have a normal distribution.

And so, to bed. I am too tired to take this idea any further. Let me know what you think. Which type are you?


Sweet dreams, don’t forget to tell the ones you love that you love them, and most important of all, be kind.