You're a Leader. Who Are You Responsible to ?

“Well, I report to my boss. So I guess that’s who I’m responsible to.“

Well, that’s the answer from my manager and indeed the extension of that is that you are responsible to your manager.

The question is “You’re a leader…”

Let’s use the analogy of a ship’s captain. 
And for this example, let’s just consider that he has received indications of a significant storm due in the next few hours.

The captain is involved in making critical decisions that impact directly on the safety of the crew and of course the passengers.

In this case these are his first responsibility.
Then, of course, he has responsibility to the owners of the ship that he is captaining

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And each crew member has responsibility for their fellow crew and the safety and well-being of the passengers.

In every other context in which all leaders are working together, at different levels, they are responsible, vertically, up and down.

They are responsible to the next leader up the line.

And they are responsible to each person they are leading, or who sees them as a leader.

Is there a conflict here? How can I be responsible to the person ‘above’ as well all the direct reports ?

And who takes priority?

It’s a little bit like the six-year-old boy who said to his father “I can’t get the balance right “.

His father asked “what do you mean, the balance, what balance?”

The boy replied “Well, when I’m with you, I love you. But when I’m with mum, I love her.“ (True story.)

As the exemplary leader is going to be living his values, his Integrity will guide him to make sure that there is no compromise in his relationship with the team or his manager.

And if there is an issue which is directed at him from his manager, which might relates to his team members, his responsibility is to listen to his manager, and we’re practical and reasonable, to defend and protect his team members.
If a directive from his manager he’s not able to be changed and he’s going to impact negatively on his team, the leader will convey this news with honesty, authenticity, and of course empathy.

But as far as possible, in all ways, the leader will be showing support, guidance, empowerment, and of course appreciation to the team members.

After all, that’s who he - or she - is responsible for.