Leadership is hard, whether you are leading your children or a large group of employees. Over the years, I have learned some life lessons about leadership, even from a young age.
1. Leaders are lonely. It does not mean they feel sad and lonely and depressed. It just means that they are not afraid to stand alone in order to lead. And the fact that they are willing to do so gives other interested people the opportunity to follow.
2. Leaders have a large comfort zone. There is nothing wrong with followers; leaders need people that will follow them. But while followers are content in their comfort zone, leaders always feel an urge to go beyond.
3. Leaders have a calling to be different. When you are in a crowd, and you are talking to your small group of friends, do you ever feel led to reach out beyond your clique? If so, you may be a leader...or maybe just an evangelist.
4. Leaders are weird. Accept it. You are not like everyone else, and that is ok! Actually, that is a very good quality that enables you to lead.
5. Leaders have to be courageous. It takes guts to tell someone to follow you. You had better be confident in what you are doing and telling them to do. But even if you are not a natural leader, you are gifted at something specific and will have chances to share that with others.
My leadership training began in middle school when I was very shy and introverted. If I didn't have a friend nearby, I would just sit by myself and wonder why no one talked to me. That is not leadership, by the way! But as I studied the Bible, God showed me that He wanted me to reach out to other people and stop focusing on myself. Hence, He showed me how to start leading. My whole mindset changed when I was in an unfamiliar environment. Instead of staying to myself, I would just find someone and start talking with them.
That opened up doors for me to be a mentor to younger girls. So in high school, I mentored middle schoolers. In college, I mentored high schoolers. In graduate school, I led Bible studies. In high school and college, I went on mission trips. As newlyweds, my husband and I were youth leaders and music leaders at church. If I was ever in a new environment, I would just look for who I should reach out to and start a conversation. Some people are extremely shy and almost afraid to talk, but once you take the time and show that you care enough to listen, they usually open up.
Right now I have the responsibility of leading my five, young children. All moms have this responsibility, and we can do a great job at it whether we are natural leaders or followers. Either way, our kids are going to learn from us and likely become like us. So we at least need to try to lead them well. As moms, we need to be leaders that practice what we preach. Our kids may learn more from watching us than what we tell them or try to teach them.
Don't be afraid to lead. If God is calling you to do something new, He has a reason for placing that in your heart. Don't compare yourself or second guess yourself. Maybe God wants you to write cards to orphans or serve a meal to the homeless or start a ministry or grow your business or have another baby. God will empower you to fulfill what He has called you to do.
"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him" (Hebrews 13:20-21).
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