Byron's Babbles

Tonight, in the great show, Tracker, the following quote was shared by Reenie (Fiona Rene), “Life goes two ways: you are either the painter or the paint.” This a metaphor that highlights two different approaches to life. This is really the choice between being active in our own lives or passive.

If we’re the painter, it means we actively create, shape, and influence our life’s path through our choices, actions, and decisions. We take control and craft our own destiny.

Conversely, if we’re the paint, it suggests that sometimes, life or circumstances can simply happen to us, and we might be passive, being influenced, or shaped by external forces rather than actively shaping our lives.

Carl Jung emphasized the importance of integrating different aspects of ourselves. Jung acknowledged that at times, we might be more receptive, allowing external influences or our unconscious material to shape us (akin to being “the paint”). At other times, we take active control and shape our identity and life experiences intentionally (like being “the painter”).

Overall, the quote is a reminder encouraging self-awareness about whether we’re taking charge of our lives or letting external factors dictate it, urging us all to consider how much we are creating our own experiences versus being shaped by others.

This is Part 2 of my posts inspired by the new release by Evanescence, “Who Will You Follow.” This great song made me think and reflect deeply on what it means to both be a follower and influencer of followers. Being A Follower, Part 1 explored being a follower. There is signify research pointing to the contributions of followers to leadership and organizational success. These studies, such as Uhl-Bien, M., Riggio, R. E., Lowe, K. B., Carsten, M. K. (2014) “Followership theory: A review and research agenda”, conceptualize and demonstrate followers as relevant co-producers or co-constructors of leadership and its outcomes.

Now, let’s talk about the leader’s role in this relationship. In “Who Will You Follow” Amy Lee sings, “What have you done to me?; You drain the life out of me ’til I don’t know myself; When all your faith in reality fades away; Who will you follow then?” Ever worked with a leader who drains the life out of you? Ever felt like there are leaders who drain the life out of us? As a constructionist, I believe there is a co-construction or leadership process approach to followership in which individuals mutually interact and engage in social and relational contexts to construct (or not construct) leadership and followership. These relationships do not necessarily align with formal hierarchical roles. Relationships matter here.

Great leaders understand the importance of humility and recognizing the value of other perspectives, which aligns with qualities of a good follower. In their research, they suggest that leadership and followership are interconnected roles within a dynamic system, where good followers contribute to successful leadership by providing support, constructive feedback, and a shared vision. This perspective fosters a culture of mutual respect and continuous learning, showing that being a follower at times is essential for effective leadership. Who will you follow?