As my son eagerly connected one Lego piece to another, his spontaneous exclamation caught my attention, “Let’s build a boss, Dad!” Intrigued, I joined in, curious to see how his young mind perceived leadership.
The first character took shape under his nimble fingers – a stern-looking figure, with furrowed brows and a rigid stance. Observing his creation, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why does the boss look so angry?”
“A boss has to be like that; like Putin,” he replied earnestly.
I probed further, “Is this what a good boss looks like?”
“No way,” he shook his head, “this is not a good boss.”
And so, the journey continued. “Show me, what does a good boss look like?” I asked.
His hands worked diligently, constructing a figure with a kinder appearance and a softer expression. “This is a good boss,” he declared, proudly presenting the second character.
Intrigued, I asked, “And what makes him a good boss?”
“He’s wise and kind. He cares about others and helps them improve,” he explained with a smile.
I felt a swell of pride – my son’s vision of a good leader was rooted in compassion and wisdom. Yet, he wasn’t done. There was one more character to build.
“This one is an even better boss to be,” he asserted, creating a character leisurely leaning back, drink in hand.
Curious, I asked, “And why is that?”
“He’s got it easy, watching the others work while he relaxes,” he said, a twinkle in his eye.
I burst into laughter, marveling at my son’s ability to infuse humor and a playful twist into our Lego-building session.
As we packed away the Lego pieces, I couldn’t shake the images of the three bosses from my mind. It struck me how, even at a young age, we carry distinct mental pictures of leadership – images shaped by the world around us. The stern leader, the wise and kind mentor, and the laid-back boss – all coexist in our perceptions, influencing how we navigate the world of work and leadership.
I invite you to reflect on the story of the Lego bosses and share your thoughts. What mental images of leadership have you carried since childhood? How do they align or differ from my son’s Lego bosses? And most importantly, how do these images shape your expectations of leaders and yourself as a leader today?
Let’s come together and unravel the tapestry of leadership perceptions, learning from the candid innocence of a child’s imagination and understanding how these early images continue to impact us. Join the conversation, and let’s explore the mental pictures of leadership within us all.
