Chapters of Leadership - Settling
Key Indicators - Full Article
What Do Those Lights Mean?
Every vehicle has those nagging lights on the dashboard. They’re specific in nature and designed to get our attention. Yet, if you are anything like me, you can be tempted to ignore them for fear of what is triggering them to light up. It took me a bit of time…ok, it took me way longer than I care to admit, to realize those lights are not inherently bad – they are actually for my benefit. In my immaturity, I would only see those lights and assume there was something bad associated with it and so avoidance was the modus operandi.
Awareness Increases the Capacity for Acceptance
Continuing in our chapter of SETTLING and moving on from the purpose of it. It's critical for us to have awareness when we are in a particular chapter of our story. The indicator light in my car with a tire icon allows me to know there is a tire with low pressure instinctively. The indicator helps me quickly and accurately accept the fact I need to go to the gas station and put air in my tire - becoming well | rooted is no different.
If you are anything like me, you have experienced the wonderfully frustrating feeling of hindsight – if I would have known _____ (fill in the blank) I would’ve been such a better leader. I believe this is true largely because when we have the awareness of the chapter, we are more empowered to accept those moments for what they are. Similar to how character development happens throughout a good story, knowing these indicators helps us embrace this chapter more holistically.
There are two important indicators to quickly mention to help us better recognize this chapter of our story. First, there will be an increase in your own awareness of those gifts and talents you possess. You are not going to be able to pinpoint exactly what they are, how they show up, how to best leverage them or utilize them consistently, but you are going to start having some flashes of clarity. These flashes of awareness will naturally lead you to the next chapter in your story.
Second, there is something we can easily dismiss or convince ourselves we don’t need. There is no rooted story of leadership that doesn’t have other people playing a key role. In this chapter of your story, you will experience colleagues, friends, family and even strangers notice and acknowledge some pieces of your genius. This part of the story requires you to pay close attention to the specifics around what others recognize in and through you.
The Day You Plant the Seed Isn’t The Day You Eat It’s Fruit
There can be difficulty remembering these indicators when you are in the middle of this chapter. The fluctuating nature of seeing the recognition of others, the flashes of genius, moments of clarity are often coupled with the desire to simply skip the chapter all together. However, to be a well | rooted leader, there is a period of time we all must go through where our successes will not be consistent. It takes time, consistent acceptance and timely reminders. The belief we should see consistency in our natural giftings at the moment of awareness would be as logical as expecting an apple tree to drop apples the same day you plant it. I have a question for you - could it be possible our culture of instantaneous outcomes has created a belief in you that possessing real leadership should be that easy as well? The poignant question we all must answer is do we want the real thing?
Stay Rooted ~
