Article March 31, 2014 Issue

Leaders and followers

Tina Bilhorn

A while back, I took a six-week class on leadership. Our final project was to present a talk that addressed the statement, “I am a leader because ….”

It was a wonderful class; I learned a lot. But every time I sat down to work on my final project, I didn’t write a word. This continued until the evening before I was to present my talk. I’d written nothing, not because I’m a procrastinator but because I had absolutely nothing to say.

As I sat there, I realized I had nothing to say because I didn’t think of myself as a leader. I’d never aspired to be a leader, and felt very comfortable in supportive roles where others took the lead. I’d been raised to “do as you’re told, when you’re told, how you’re told.” Obedient child? I could talk for hours about that. Leader? Nothing.

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