What I’ve noticed more and more lately is that there is really a lack of leaders in the general workforce, as well as life in general. In a lot of my previous employers there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for junior resources to really be leaders. Sure, everybody tells you to take charge and be accountable but your ability to actually make decisions that matter is usually not there. With my current employer it has been vastly different, they welcome anyone that is willing to take charge and lead something. It think it’s mostly because there’s so much work to be done that no one has time to lead everything. The more people that are willing to lead and take charge, the better. So why is it important to become a leader? Being a leader puts you in position to take charge of your career and your life.
In life there are followers and there are leaders. Both roles are important, and one is not necessarily better than the other. I’ve always thought of myself as a leader, but mostly because I always wanted the ability to make decisions and change things for the better. In my career experiences there have been a lot of times when I didn’t agree with management decisions and always felt helpless because I didn’t have the power to change anything. That was one of the driving factors in me enrolling to get my MBA, so that I could move towards positions with decision authority.
It’s a matter of perspective really, because there are a lot of people that do not want that responsibility and don’t really feel the disappointment in changes at the workplace that they don’t really agree with. I think anytime you can take charge of your surroundings and contribute to the decisions that affect your life, it’s a plus. Our journey to find happiness is a long one, but I always felt more confident the more control I had over it. The thought of other people having the majority of control over my life scares me. You only live once and if you don’t do it your way, I think there’s a good chance you’ll regret it later.
Another great thing about being a leader is that you separate yourself from your peers. Everyone can complain, especially when it comes to a job. There are so many workers that are quick to talk about all the negative things that are going on at the company, but how many of them are actually working to make it better? They will usually have some sort of excuse why they’re not actively working to change it, or claim that it’s not their job or role. A leader is one that is unhappy about something and works to change it, because it means something to them. A lot of what being a leader is all about is not accepting things the way they are. A leader takes something negative and works to change it. Why would you want to continue doing things you don’t like?
There are many ways to lead and many types of leaders. You don’t have to be an executive or an owner to be a leader. It’s more about being able to step up and not being afraid to speak up to make positive changes. Being a leader is positive to your career, as you’re more likely to be noticed and stand out among your peers as someone who rises above the norm. It’s also healthy for your personal life as it can drive you to make bolder decisions that can lead you closer to your dream life. The confidence in yourself that you build becoming a leader starts to spill over into all aspects of your life, empowering you to make the positive changes necessary to reach your goals.
