4 A leader
7 k8 z* M5 d. T' _/ |2 zAnd then, I listened to the voices around me. And I heard what the group was trying to accomplish. I rolled up my sleeves and joined in the work.
- g& n; H% Y; n/ j+ h' A$ jAs we worked, I asked, ‘are we all together in what we want to do and how to get the job done?’) j2 C9 X7 V# ^8 i* R
And we thought together, and we fought together, and we struggled towards our goal.
+ e% m" l1 K$ _1 t2 C, lI found myself encouraging the fainthearted. I sought the ideas of those too shy to speak out. I taught those who had little skill. I praised those who worked hard. When our task was completed, one of the group turned to me and said, “this would not have been done but for your leadership.”9 v! T$ D+ P4 x$ B! i
At first, I said, “I didn’t lead. I just worked with the rest.” And then I understood, leadership is not a goal. It’s a way to reaching a goal.
& o5 u$ F }3 m, LI lead best when I help others to go where we’ve decided to go. I lead best when I help others to use themselves creatively. I lead best when I forget about myself as a leader and focus on my group their needs and their goals.$ D/ f6 d4 R% x+ @% e. x0 u
To lead is to serve to give to achieve together. |