You know, I've been very frustrated at work lately...

My former team lead just left the team. He basically put all of his work on me. Am I busy? Not at all. I've taken all the work as far as I can with what I know and sent him a list of follow-up questions. A month later he has not responded to a single one. I've sent him numerous follow-ups, I've asked for contacts taht can answer the questions, I've complained to the new team lead, my manager, my project manager--nothing has yielded results. I am over two years ahead of schedule on my project, so it's no big deal, but I hate being idle.

And this is why my post-count has been so high the last month...

My answer is "both, depending on situation"

I have a tendency to be a leader, but if I have not been put into a leadership position by others I will usually try to become more of a follower. However, sometimes this just doesn't work for long because I may see a situation develop that needs addressing and oftentimes nobody seems willing or able to take on the task at hand. It is not in my blood to sit back and watch something unravel for lack of leadership action.

Well put and unless you are God, you should be both a leader and follower. Proud to say I am as well both...

I disagree with this touchy-feely leader/follower thing, it smacks too much of kumbaya Liberal everyone feel good crap.

Good leaders are good listeners, not good followers, IMHO.

I believe there are 16 different varieties. The Myers- Briggs test will tell you exactly who/what you are. It definitely depends on the situation, your experience level and other personality types you are in contact with. If you are a team builder, you wouldn't want to put too many type A "leaders" together, especially if they are women. A leader will always emerge in a group of "followers".

Interesting concept.
At work I have a "leader", but when he's gone, everyone comes to me to check his orders are O.K. and to fix the trail of errors and ignorance he has left behind.
Does that make me a leader, follower or both?

I think it makes you underpaid. :D

You can only be a leader if others are willing to follow.
I do not follow well and I usually go my own way. Often alone (which is just fine and dandy with me) but sometimes others tag along.

I am a weak, pathetic personality with no backbone what so ever. I hate to be in the center and I am always afraid people will find me worthless and not to be reckoned with. This makes it all the more strange that people actually tends to listen to me, seek my opinion and want me to lead them. I suppose that could make me the non voluntary leader type.

We took that test several years ago here at work, didn't think much of it at the time but GF thinks very highly of the test and asked me to take it again... I found it more interesting this time around.

I am second in seniority in a pool of five (supposed to be six) techs with a supervisor and a department manager.
By the rules there is no "lead tech" we are all equals... seniority only comes into play if there are layoffs or when picking work schedules.
But when no one is around the new techs come to me...
"Scott, what should we do?"
"Uh, I'm not your boss, I'm not supposed to tell you what to do."
Then they just stand there looking lost and giving me puppy eyes.
I sigh... roll my eyes... and tell them what to work on.

I'd have to say a leader. I don't like following others especially when there is any kind of incompetency involved. I have always been the type to go against the grain.
Ive been picked as Fire Chief for my dept four times, so I guess that is a good thing. Shows people feel I have some type of leadership ability, especially when thier lives are involved!:D

Wow!

I have always been good at both. I was very good at absorbing anything that was presented to me, work wise, and not needing to be shown twice. Be it a math calculation, proper procedure etc...

At one company, where I came aboard knowing nothing about the trade (Land Surveying) I was vice president in 6 years. I was managing crews in 4 years and they resented me greatly for being so young (I was 25) and managing guys twice my age. I got a lot of crap on a daily basis and I cannot count how many times I heard the stupid references about me being in diapers this, sucking my mommy's teat that, from them.

I just kept pushing and like I said I was running the place after 6-7 years. The owner felt he found his golden boy an was setting plan n motion to retire and let me run the place without him there.

Now that I own my own business I find leading outside the workplace not to be something I dig.

Procon mentions the yearly Dragon meet, I try to help, long distance, from Florida but it hard to do, and with the daily grind of my own place, I find it better to just assist and help with whatever needs to be done.

So I voted both. I know when to step aside and take direction and when to step up and take the reigns.

All interesting thoughts. Stomachmonkey, what I said about being incorrect doesn't mean I am going to make a decision without proper or the best available information but if it turns out to be incorrect, it is always easier to change direction while moving then not starting something at all in my opinion. My decisions are also more of the improving a business entity and I do not necessarily hold lives in my hands as some of you may.

Jim, that is something that I am learning but I suppose comes with time. I have gone from being my own individual team to having to depend on others and that for me is one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I am now being told that I need to work myself out of a job in order to grow. What are your guys thoughts on this? Also, to put this in perspective that the people I would be teaching are 10-15 years older with limited school education and mostly on the job experience. This is not a disadvantage by any means but just different.