Relaxed intensity is the leader from behind character trait most useful when facing an urgent leadership challenge or crisis. It is a unique mindset and demeanor that the leader from behind can adopt to collaboratively push through predicaments with other members of the team, rather than pushing through alone.
With relaxed intensity, the leader from behind “engages and enroll” team members to improve their execution intelligence, while freeing up their time and focus to have maximum impact on the tasks over which they have direct control.
Regardless of how much status or power the leader from behind may hold in an organization, they opt to put their focus on preserving the structure of the culture, not the structure of the organizational hierarchy. This is done not by micro-managing others they lead, but by sharing the authority, responsibility and even liability with team members.
Relaxed intensity sounds paradoxical, but it is an effective professional philosophy that the leader from behind infuses confidence and trust into challenging situations.
“Relaxed” means to manage stress effectively in order to get the job done. “Intensity” refers to approaching a task with passion and commitment to effectively accomplish the task before the deadline.
