Why should anyone want to be led by you?

"Why should anyone want to be led by you?"

That was the question we were asked on day one of leadership training last week.

We talked a bit about personal qualities, but the main focus was on the "Kongstanke" - your central, guiding idea or vision.

The importance of this was driven home with stories of pioneering expeditions across Greenland, the North Pole (almost), and the South Pole.

"Who wants to join an epic adventure with slim chances of survival and no way of turning back?" That was the essence of Fridtjof Nansen’s invitation.

I’ve heard that a vision should be big enough to fit other people’s goals and aspirations inside it - and I think that’s part of why he succeeded in getting people to follow him.

Back then, expeditions were all the rage. People wanted to conquer.

But unlike those rugged explorers who were tricked into fame-covered death traps, modern team members get to choose - every day - whether you're worth following.

A big idea can bring people on board. It can unite and motivate.

But leadership takes more than that.

Trond Kjærstad from BI Norwegian Business School said leadership is 95% administration and 5% leadership.

A key part of both is caring about the people who choose to be on your team - and making sure they have what they need to succeed.

In a way, they’re helping you reach your goal.

But even more so, you get to support them in reaching theirs.

Thank you Næringsforeningen i Stavanger-regionen, Sparebanken Vest, BI Norwegian Business School and Frank Jørstad for bringing me on this 2-year leadership journey, and helping me bring out my inner "Kongstanke" ❤️‍🔥

More to come on that!