Some words never lose their impact for teaching leaders how to lead. A case in point is a quotation from more than 700 years ago by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi. He wrote, “Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.”
I really like the concept of lamp lifeboat or ladder.
It helps to frame some of the behaviours I see in different leaders I’ve observed.
I like to think of myself as a ladder. I enjoy helping people progress and ensuring they know how they need to improve.
But you’re right, we should strive to include all three in our style where we can.
Should there be a name for a lamp+lifeboat+ladder combo, Martin?
Or is the metaphor a better framework that a leader switches between objects depending on the situation?