Leadership theorist Yukl cites Kaplan as stating, “Descriptive studies of managerial work suggest that complementary behaviors are woven together into a complex tapestry such that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts” (Kaplan, 1986, as cited by Yukl 2006, p.76). Upon close examination of a fine tapestry, one can make several observations. When viewing the front, there is typically a vast assortment of colors and textures which are woven together to create a work of great beauty. The individual components themselves may be of fine quality, however, it is not until they are artfully crafted together that they take on the magnificence of the final work. Flip the tapestry over, and an entirely different observation can be made. It still has the same mixture of threads and dye woven together, but most often the back side of a tapestry is fraught with knots and stray threads that are anything but beautiful. However, although unappealing, the back side of a tapestry is absolutely necessary, for it is the knots and loose threads which hold the front side together. The same is true with a tapestry of leadership. The front is a beautifully woven set of behaviors that have been skillfully crafted together into an effective fabric of influence, but a closer examination of the back side will show that leaders learn to knot the stray threads of experience through trial, error, and trial again in order to create a work of art that will be a benefit to those whom they lead.
In this post my desire is to encourage you to remain focused on the front side of your personal leadership tapestry. Although it’s important to continually work to strengthen your weaknesses and improve upon the failures which are so vibrantly visible from the back side, we must not make them the primary focus of our attention. When we do, it is easy for discouragement to take control of our spirit and rob us of the potentials which are presently or soon to be within our reach. Focus on your strengths first. Use your talents and natural gifts to the fullest extent, and you will find that the weaknesses become less of a determining factor and easier to improve upon. We all have weaknesses. The key is minimize them and maximize our strengths. It all starts with what side of the tapestry we look at most of the time.
Upon close examination of the back side of any tapestry you will see knots, stray threads, and the mending of the many mistakes made while creating a grand work of art. The back side of my personal leadership tapestry may have more mistakes than typical, but there is hope for a great result when it is finished, because the threads are woven tightly through a loom of perseverance, the colors are vibrant with curiosity and passion, and the design is a work of art lovingly and graciously created by a Master’s touch. And when I hang my tapestry, the back side is up against the wall and not seen.
Lead well.