Many of us dream of becoming leaders and become a force for change. Be it directing teams and companies into success, being community leaders, or as volunteers with local institutions. Others direct these aspirations into political facets, running for different levels of office locally and beyond. Many try, but only a few succeed. Certain talents and unique abilities are necessary to triumph as a leader, and many realize that the hard way – by trying and failing.
Leadership roles require an ability for acquiring the trust of people by demonstrating confidence and foresight, a demanding level of responsibility, the ability to explore uncharted waters, and the will to make personal sacrifices. Those who seek these roles are high-achievers who may crave challenges, a greater sense of self-worth, the respect and admiration of others, and in some cases a personal financial gain. The greater the task, the bigger the rewards, and many of those who achieved them agree that they were worth the sacrifices. Then there are those who strive to reach these positions but fall short of success. Those failures can be devastating and have a long-lasting adverse effect on the person.
How should you approach the decision to take on a leadership role? It may seem too hard a challenge to begin with, but giving up without trying may leave you with a prolonged sense of loss. Many of us strive to reach our potential and do great things, but no one wants to fail. You never feel sure when starting a new position and certain adjustments and learning-on-the-go are both expected and accepted. You still want to show up prepared.
When you consider taking on a leadership role, an extensive and realistic assessment is necessary before moving forward. Answer these questions thoughtfully and honestly:
- Do your intellectual and physical abilities meet the levels required for this position?
- Does this role fit your character and personality?
- Do you have a sufficient level of education for this role?
- Do you have the proper personal and professional support systems needed for the road ahead?
- Are you being offered this opportunity for the right reasons, or could this be a snare you should avoid?
- What are the possible short- and long-term benefits for you and everyone else who may be involved?
- Is this what you want to devote your foreseeable future to?
These answers can inform your path ahead, but may still not bring you to a clear decision. Success is never assured; all you have is the potential for achievement. For those who feel confident with the choice, the decision is clear and easy. But those who cannot fully answer these questions, deciding how to proceed is harder. If you find yourself in the latter group but have the right support system, you could choose to accept the challenge despite not meeting all the conditions. Your support network will help you fill those gaps and ready you on the go. There are no guarantees in life, and you certainly cannot find any at this level. At best, you will succeed in that role. At worse, you will learn a valuable lesson that could inform other venues you will consider from that point on. Even if you fail, you will be at a better position moving forward than you would if you simply declined. Even more so, conceding defeat without ever trying could leave you with the lingering unanswered question of whether you were capable of concurring that challenge or not. Any experience we take leaves a mark and informs our decisions moving forward. Learning never ceases, in failure as much as in success.
We all try to find and accept our place in society. But even with all the progress we have made, many of these opportunities favor certain groups over others. Until the day comes when we live in a perfectly equal and all-inclusive society, some of us will have to work harder than others to achieve the same goals.
If you cannot find yourself in that coveted leadership role, try a supporting role to that position such as assisting, directing, and leading from behind. Both roles are vital to the success of any enterprise, and you could very well find success and satisfaction in doing it. It is the least you should hope for yourself.