leadership tension

NMJAs a leader, you have some power and authority. You can make some decisions. You have access to some resources. You can call the people in your area to action and direct them in their work. At the same time, you also lack power in other areas. And if you overstep your authority, you can get yourself into real trouble.
If you are not the top leader, you are not running the show, but you may be responsible for it. Even if you think you possess the vision and skill to take the organization to a higher level, if it requires the organization to go in a different direction from its present course, you don’t have the authority to make such changes
the power you have is on loan from someone with higher authority. And that person has the power to take that authority away from you by firing you, demoting you, or moving you to another area of the business.

the way this tension impacts a leader is affected by the following five factors:

1. EMPOWERMENT—HOW MUCH AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY DOES THE PERSON ABOVE YOU GIVE YOU, AND HOW CLEAR ARE THE LINES?
Empowering means defining the parameters in which people are allowed to operate, and then setting them free.
But how free was free? What were the limits?
Good leaders rarely think in terms of boundaries; instead, they think in terms of opportunities.
2. INITIATIVE—HOW DO YOU BALANCE INITIATING AND NOT OVERSTEPPING YOUR BOUNDARIES?
Good leaders rarely think in terms of boundaries; instead, they think in terms of opportunities, the number one characteristic of leaders is the ability to make things happen.
Sometimes that desire to initiate leads to the expansion of their responsibilities—and their boundaries.
Other times it leads to conflict with the people who lead them.
If you continually push the limits, it’s likely you will rub others the wrong way. The good news is that if you work in an environment where leaders at all levels are empowered, people may tolerate your challenging the process of how things get done
3. ENVIRONMENT—WHAT IS THE LEADERSHIP DNA OF THE ORGANIZATION AND LEADER?
Every organization has its own unique environment. And also an organization takes on the personality of its leader.
An environment may be fine for one leader but not for another. Only you can make the assessment for yourself.
and decide whether you can survive leave alone thrive in that environment
4. JOB PARAMETERS—HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR JOB AND HOW TO DO IT?
The less familiar the work, the greater the tension. If you don’t know how to do the job, you’re going to be stressed, even if you’re a fast learner and have a teachable attitude. Even after you know how to do the work, if you have no idea what others’ expectations are of you, you won’t be on solid ground.
5. APPRECIATION—CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT THE CREDIT?
“What’s causing so much disharmony among the nations is the fact that some want to beat the big drum, few are willing to face the music, and none will play second fiddle.” The greater your desire to receive credit and recognition, the more frustrated you are likely to become working in the middle of an organization.

. Be comfortable .
The reality is that it’s actually easier to lead from the middle—if a really good leader is above you. Good leaders at the top break ground for their people. They create momentum for the entire organization.
The more you know about what’s expected of you, what’s normal in the organization, and how much authority you have, the more comfortable you will be.
. KNOW WHAT TO “OWN” AND WHAT TO LET GO.
maintain a constant dialogue concerning expectations with the people to whom you answer and who answer to you. As is it mine or yours..
Get the short list of things You had to do that no one else could do it for you
integrity is “doing what you said you would do, when you said you would do it, and how you said you would do it.”
. Find quick answer.
always have a list of questions to ask and issues to discuss, ready.
Be quick to provide information and answers so that the interactions are effective and efficient
.never violate your position or leaders trust.
Trust is built one block at a time but lost in one wave
That can mean abusing the power of your position, intentionally undermining your leader, or using the organization’s resources for personal gain.
.Releive yourself.
you must guard against the temptation to try to advance at the expense of your leader.
Never say if i were in charge statements to your team
speak up to your boss as frequently as required BUT always remain faithful
in serving the people who gave you that authority.