Think of your very first experience as a leader or in a leadership position. Did it involve a promotion? Any special benefits? Was it a pleasant experience or were you over exerting yourself? Did you have balloons and a party? Was it for a special event or for an extended period of time? Did you enjoy the experience? Did it teach you alot about yourself?
I came to this subject today as I resumed planning an idea that was put on hold by unfortunate events. I wondered what qualified me? Why would I come up with this awesome event? What makes me think that I am credible to lead in this sort of way?
In my work place I am not a leader, I have no authority, I am a clerk. Now don't misunderstand me, I adore my job. I love working behind my desk. I genuinely love my co-workers. I enjoy helping my customers and dealing with difficult situations. However, I am not any one's boss.
In my personal life I am a mother and a wife. I consider these great positions of leadership, but my husband is head of the household.
This is when I realized that I have never had experience (in the formal sense) as a leader. I am a traditional gal, so I moved straight from my parent's house to my husband's house whenever we were married a mere 2 years ago. I have always been a great team player, but I have never led anything. Then I started thinking about my character and my personality and how I became the person that I am.
When I was young I had many friends with older siblings, and I saw all the movies about the cool older brother who would beat mean kids up and the cool older sister who could teach you how to put on make up and how to talk to boys. I always wanted an older sibling, then when I was 7 years old my little sister came into my life. I didn't know it then, but she taught me how to be a leader. I was not always the greatest leader, but I like to think that I taught her how to be compassionate and that it is always better to laugh than have an attitude. I wanted to be that cool older sister, and I only hope that to her, I was. I saw my friends picking on their younger siblings and leaving them out of beach trips or milkshake runs at the Tasty Freeze and I always tried to make a space for my sister. Sure there were times when I wanted my space, but she taught me to watch myself, because she was always watching me.
There were also times when my sister led me, if I was down or broken my sister was usually the person who came to me first. She holds many of my deepest secrets, and she has a big piece of my heart.
This thought led me to many of my friends and kids that I have mentored through churches or relationships. At the time I had no idea what I was doing, but as I look back I know that when I was just lending an ear or a shoulder, listening and loving and giving advise from personal experiences that I was mentoring, I was leading.
So, now that you have your first leadership experience in your mind, think about who you led and how they are now. How has your leadership affected them in their lives today? Have they, in return, led you in anyway? I think it is important to remember that no age or race or religion is exempt from learning or being led in some way or another. Now think about yourself right now, who are you currently leading? Are they leading you in any way?
Just because you are leader, does not mean that you are not being led. If you look hard enough you may find leadership that you didn't even know existed.
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