In the absence of leadership, it is incumbent on the followers to chart their own course.

This one line has so much packed in it.

The absence of leadership does not mean there is no leader in place. Instead, it refers to the actions and behaviors of the leader that negatively impacts team functioning, team morale, and team performance goals. Another way to characterize the absence of leadership is to think of it as ineffective leadership. Examples of ineffective leadership are; no communications or poor communications, poor decision making, inability to set priorities, indecisiveness, poor conflict resolution skills, lack of demonstrated emotional intelligence, lack of support, and generally poor judgement. From your experience, what would you add to this list? 

Subordinates, like vacuums, hate the absence of something. They feel a force driving them to put something in place – where they perceive ineffective leadership, they make the best decisions they are capable of making.  When subordinates chart their own course, typically it is not exactly the course the organization intends. When they chart their own course, their goals are often not the same goals as the organization. Their goals tend to be short-term focused where the organization has a longer-term focus. A vacuum will suck up whatever is closest to it, without regard to how appropriate it is. It is not unusual to have a strong, probably self-serving personality close by a leadership vacuum. 

The first to notice the absence of leadership are the followers. The last to notice the absence of leadership is the leader. To address this issue, the first order of business bringing this to the leader’s awareness. Then it involves the leader’s self-reflection and self-assessment. This is the point where leaders require some type of assistance to help them understand the impact of their leadership behaviors and leadership style. The second step is to help them create a strategy for growth and change. And, of course there needs to be a plan for implementing the strategy. 

Is there an absence of leadership somewhere in your organization? 

Do you have a strategy for addressing the absence?