Formal vs Informal Leader

What do you think make a different between a formal and a non-formal leader? From educational point of view then it could be said that a formal leader have a certain power that informal leader don’t. It’s call structural power. Kind of power that exist because someone is given a certain position. But what do you think an informal leader has?

From many thing that an informal leader has I think one thing that interested is informal leader could hear and feel more. I think this is because somehow structural position creates somekind a barrier for subordinates to tell story, problems, etc. They’ll feel embarased, intimidated, etc when they have to speak to their structural leader. But since an informal leader is created naturally then they feel more secure to tell their problems and thoughts to them. So it is understandable that an informal leader could hear more.

Since this informal leader ussually don’t have different treatment from upper management then they will feel the same environment with the other team members. Let say that if the other team members doesn’t get additional holidays, then this informal leader ussually are not too. So they know exactly what the other team member feel. Is it a problem or not of course depend on each individual personality. But at least this will help.

So what do we learn here? It is not to always become an informal leader. Company need structural leader, and a formal leader have their own benefit though. So what we learn here is to mimics the good side of an informal leader :

-          Hear more. Hang out more with them. Make them know that really there is no different between you and them. Watch ugly movies with them, understand their reading, understand their song (even dangdut J)…just be with them. And sooner or later you will hear more.

-          Don’t use your structural power first, use your informal power more. In any events try to optimized the use of informal power, such as persuasions, and not order. By doing this I think they will feel you are more an informal leader rather than a formal leader.

-          Try to feel and think from they side. It is easy to say and so cliché but just look at yourself, it is really really difficult to do this. Do you think Rp 10.000 in salary adjustment really matter? Perhaps you don’t find Rp 10.000 is a significant number, even for your sub-ordinates. But believe me, what you think and feel is not the same with what they feel and think. For them perhaps those small number of many means so many. Put yourself in their shoes.

-          Another way to put yourself in their shoes is scheduled a social gathering in their house. Try to met their family, their house, their environment. This perhaps help you in understanding their demand, their request, their compaints, etc.

“A good leader is the one that make their followers die with a smile in their face” - Taiko