The Reluctant Leader

Let me tell you a short anecdote.

This young engineer finds himself in a room full of very senior leaders - part of a leadership development course at work.

After a series of simulations and rounds upon rounds of feedback comes the 'lineup ritual':

• All participants are asked to line up according to how they felt they showed up as leaders on that day. 

• Then, three from the lineup are asked to step out and re-order the line as they felt their peers showed up that day.

Day one: The engineer gingerly hides in the bottom third of the 50 person lineup.

The first participant  moves him further up to the half line. The second one re-orders a few others and moves this engineer further up... the third one moves him to the second spot and then stands behind him.

Day two: Same thing happens - it starts to dawn on the engineer that there is a message here somewhere…

Day three: The engineer stands in the top three and stays there...

That engineer was me 25 years ago. Unsure of myself, low on confidence, disillusioned, lost. The retreat changed my life in so many ways and I am forever grateful to my colleagues...

Do you feel that you are that engineer - that reluctant leader just waiting for a nudge, a sign, a vote of confidence?
Do you have similar anecdotes of the kindness of strangers in showing you your true worth?