Where I live, we are in the middle of leftover season. It began with leftover candy about a month ago, then hit full stride last week. We will be riding waves of party leftovers for the next few weeks, when the tide really hits.
There are things I appreciate about leftovers, and things I do not. The leftovers I like tend to disappear first, leaving the lingering flavors I could probably do without.
I prefer the parts of the meal I prepare, but get stuck with leftovers made by other people as well. I do not usually think they intentionally make food I do not like. They just do not know me as well as I do. Besides, they know someone else will end up with their leftovers.
Leadership is like leftovers. Meals are cooperative enterprises, rarely created by one person acting alone. When we get together, each of us brings something to the table. What we do not eat becomes leftovers.
It is rare that we work with only one leader our entire lives. We are mobile; changing jobs, moving around, changing affiliations. We learn different things from each person. Each leader brings out something new in us. We bring what we have learned to each new table, leftovers and all.
We have picked up recipes, habits, insights, and ways of doing things each time we have worked with someone else. We may not savor each of those leftovers, but can put them to work in new ways in new situations.
One of the best things about leftovers is discovering new ways to flavor or combine them to make them more appetizing.
How appetizing are the leftovers tucked in the back of your leadership refrigerator?
Whose leadership leftovers do you have the most challenging time appreciating?
[Image by jeffreyw]
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