During this event, I was recommended by my faith group to lead a faith study during my sophomore year of college. According to them, I was well-versed in my faith knowledge, and that I would be a great role model and leader to the younger college freshmen that I would be leading. I considered their suggestions and did research on the requirements and expectations of being a faith leader. Ultimately, after meeting with the interviewers I declined the offer to be a faith leader.
-What?
My two faith leaders had spent time with me (I was their disciple), and listened to my leadership practices, methods, and faith knowledge. I was recommended to lead a faith group and it made me wonder. Was I competent enough? Would I be a good leader? Would I be a Transformational Leader or a Servant Leader? Would I stagnate the spiritual growth of the younger students or have the inability to answer their questions, whatever they may be? These were questions of self-doubt that I had at first. After reviewing the application I realized that I wasn’t qualified to lead this faith group. I met with the interviewer and declined my offer. For a while, I felt that I had let down my faith leaders and some of the younger folk.
-So What?
After the fact that I realized that although I felt that I wasn’t personally qualified for the leadership position despite what my faith leaders suggested, I learned that good leaders realize which group they can work effectively in and which groups they would work ineffectively in. As Northouse explains, a leader isn’t effective in every group and good leaders realize that. You must learn what your element to excel is in, while keeping your strengths and weaknesses in consideration. I took this lesson and applied it. I realized that although I wasn’t qualified to lead a faith group through a particular ministry at Virginia Tech, that didn’t mean I couldn’t be a faith leader in my friend groups, or other ministries at VT that have different group elements.
-Now What?
In the bigger picture, the lesson I took from this: Realizing which groups you can be more effective and less effective in, is paramount to my future success. Arguably, one of the greatest lessons that I’ve learned. It will take introspection to know if I will be a good fit for some work groups I am beckoned to so that I realize if I would be an effective leader in that group. Relating to past, it takes reflection to realize that perhaps the groups I didn’t excel in during the past wasn’t a result of my own incompetence. Perhaps that group in particular didn’t exhibit the proper group dynamics and leadership goals regardless of my influence or abilities to guide them. A good leader is aware of their limitations, and strengths. They can use this awareness to place themselves in positions that can further maximize their success. Personally, I can use this lesson specifically in my job hunting. I can weed out the jobs that I do not feel qualified for and realize there are better fits for me to bring value to myself and a certain company.
Leadership Journey: Nick Lawrence 