Called to Lead? Part I

I'm not quite comfortable leading in certain situations.

As the need arises, I will step up though and take charge. But these instances, are not many. There are just certain things that I care about more, and at times, when I feel that a situation is not part of my priority, I tend to leave it alone--and let others take the role of a leader.

Some have evaluated my leadership and say that I am not as aggressive. But I don't justify myself, I don't think/feel that I need to. But deep inside, I know that they are wrong. I can be very aggressive if I feel I need to: and this is when I consider the situation to be important for me. If not, and if I know that there are others who can take the limelight, I let it be.

But leadership in most organizations, as I understand it, requires one to lead in almost all aspects of the job, whether it involves your actual work or merely extra-curricular activities [note the 'merely' there, speaking of bias =) ].

Personally, I am not into extra-curricular activities. There was one instance when a colleague of mine from my previous company told me that if I wanted to climb the ladder of success, then I would need to get some exposure through such activities. (Ah excuse me, I don't want to climb that ladder! hehe) If that is how one gets noticed to get promoted, then I'm definitely in the wrong company.

My thinking has always been that work performance should be the basis for any promotions (or to get noticed). The success of the business is not how good you sing, dance or plan an extra-curricular activity, etc... The company does not gain profit through such, so why is it that the ladder of success is placed there? =)

Because I'm not good at extra-curricular activities, I sometimes question my ability to lead, in the context of having to include leading in such activities.

This has been a challenge for me, actually. It is an area of weakness, again, if I should base it in the context of what is required by most organizations. And where most of my colleagues find this fun, I too enjoy it. It is just that I enjoy reading good books more. I hope they enjoy reading, as much as I do. I can definitely attest, they will learn a lot from great people there.

But anyways, going back to my weakness, I find comfort in what I read recently in the Book: "God is My Success" by Larry Julian -- it says: "God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called." Now if this is the case, do I have hope then?

I have lots more to share... 'til next post. =)