Leadership Struggles: Stepping Into Leadership
I would say that the two biggest leadership opportunities in my life would be while I was in the Marine Corps and my time as a student pastor at my church. I think both of these opportunities grew and shaped me and as difficult as both of these things were at times, I don’t think they were the most difficult times of leadership. After the Marines I came back home to attend college and of course had to get a job. I’m a go getter, always have been, and am quite driven. I think the Marines probably gave me more drive and the confidence to go along with it. That meant I usually excelled at whatever task or job I did. I started out in retail and it didn’t take me long to move into more leadership roles. At first I stepped into loss prevention and then left that. Started a new job and a new store and agin worked my way into opportunity. Then I found myself making a job change and started in the food and beverage industry. Guess what I did. I busted my tail and found myself in leadership roles. I started getting recruited by other places. You would think all was good but as I often did, started over. This time I was just a server at the Lake Charles Country Club. I worked hard and took every opportunity to learn and grow as I always had and eventually I was asked to be the manager over the restaurant at the Country Club. It was here that I ran into my first significant leadership struggle.
I’m sure this was true in some of the other places I worked but here as I was promoted from within, I now had to lead those that I was just alongside of. This obviously happens often in the military but the structure is very different and lends itself to that. Here, I now had to have honest and at times tough conversations with those I was rubbing elbows with the week before. I’d like to say I handled these times correctly and with lots of grace but I didn’t. I’m not certain of this but I feel I probably handled it with similar expectations as I would have in the Marine Corps. If for any reason you’re uncertain, the military ways of doing things don’t often translate to civilian life.
I now find myself in a situation in which I’ve had no problems stepping into leadership roles. Some of that is because I’m leading those younger than me and some of that is because I’ve matured some and learned how to navigate things better. I do, however, find myself working with teenagers and students whom are looking to step into leadership roles themselves. In many of these cases, it’s peer leadership or leading those that are just a year or two younger than they are. While many are finding fault in this next generation I believe and have experienced they desire to be challenged and more importantly, make a difference. Oftentimes they are willing to leap headfirst into something they believe in without weighing the cost or consequences. This is an incredible thing! So to wrap up this post, I want to give a few thoughts; both to the person looking to step into a leadership role but also to those of us who have the responsibility of coaching and developing them. Let’s start with the one stepping into those roles.
My encouragement for you would be to go for it but don’t go alone. You have great passion and you have more resources at your disposal than at any other time before. Channel that passion into your purpose. I know many young people struggle with knowing what that is and it’s more than I could possibly put into this post but find your purpose and then passionately live it out. The “don’t go alone” part sounds simple enough but I want to elaborate a bit. You do need your friends and people around you to succeed. In fact, being a leader to your peers, not in title but in deed, is one of the purest forms of leadership I believe. Where I want to encourage you is in this; go to your parents instead of Google, a trusted adult instead of Siri, or a pastor instead of Alexa. These are all great things we have at our fingertips and by no means am I saying not to use them. What I want you to see is the immense resources and well of knowledge you have in the people God has placed in your life. They have walked where you are looking to walk. They’ve experienced what you’re going to. They can offer wisdom, guidance, and advice that the previous mentioned “digital experts” ever can. Ask them!
Before I can get a “that’s right” or an “amen” from those already leading and doing, let me present a couple challenges to you. Firstly, we have to give this next generation leadership opportunities. I’ve used the words engaging, equipping, and empowering for years now when it comes to developing leaders, especially student leaders. We must engage them in conversations in regards to leading, equip them for the leadership roles they face, and then empower them to lead out. After all, the best leaders teach their teams to lead and then give them the lead. When it comes to he empowering piece, we have to learn to let them to do it their way at times. This next generation is determined and resilient. They are creative and as I said earlier, they want to make a difference. This has been a struggle for me at times. The “I wouldn't do it that way” mentality we can bring to the empowering conversation is not empowering. Yes we need to coach them and yes we need to guide them but we have to give them room to operate and lead or they’re not leaders.
As I often do, let me end this post with a couple questions. What are some struggles you’ve had stepping into leadership roles? How has that formed and shaped you when it comes to developing other leaders, especially younger ones?
Stepping into leadership roles can oftentimes feel intimidating and challenging. Let’s step out boldly and into our calling! Stay the course, you have what it takes!