Software Engineering – Week the Eighth
“Leaders required.” This should be on a sign posted in our classroom. In our next group project we were asked to pick groups. After that, leaders for each stage for the project. Forming a group of six who will work together for the remainder of the semester on a project, each supporting the other, each partially responsible for the success of the project and each tackling different issues, is always somewhat stressful. In times like these we get an interesting view of a person’s character.
Throughout history there have been examples of leaders coming to power. Most have come after revolutions or other times of instability: Washington, Cromwell, Napoleon or Caesar to name a few. All of these have something in common: they’ve stepped up, hearing the call within. Each showing a dedication to service, or maybe sheer astronomical ego, by assuming a powerful role. Some of the ascents have been terrible, but they were popular and powerful leaders, at least for a time. After our first group meeting, I can honestly say that none of us are a Bonaparte.
This is because they’re actual leaders, not just people who like to feel the bright lights of authority on their brow as they belch out orders to faceless minions.
It’s not that any of us are lazy. Rather, we’re like a spider-web: everyone supporting the other. It’s distributed. Naturally, it seems like our group would fall into the category of “flat.” But, like any class worth taking, this class is about growing; so we had to add some leavening to our group. It is, and always has been, my opinion that the best official leaders are simply the de-facto leaders who are dressed up and pushed into the spotlight. This is because power doesn’t really change. This is because they’re actual leaders, not just people who like to feel the bright lights of authority on their brow as they belch out orders to faceless minions. Yes, the world needs real leaders, not just narcissists. Thankfully, our group contains good leaders, but most just have to embrace it.
For this first leg of the project I’m fairly sure, just has with many examples in history, the de-facto leader will become the official leader. I’m happy about this because that person is most likely not assuming the position (purely) for tyrannical but rather because they can lead. Someone will step up because of a power vacuum. This is the pattern of true leadership.
3/8/2014