Most of us have never seen ourselves as leaders. For most of us, the idea of taking charge of an office not so long ago would have seemed completely absurd. That's a job for high-level people, for people.... for born leaders!
However, despite any initial misgivings, leadership positions are something that many of us are forced into against any protest. In the vast majority of industries, advancement and increased pay mean taking on more responsibility. And that responsibility usually takes the form of some kind of leadership role. You can only progress so far before you start having staff under you, and the higher up the ladder you go, the more people will start looking to you for leadership and the more people you will hold accountable.
That leaves us with two choices: run away from the pressure and responsibility and live on the modest salary that comes with it, or learn to suck it up and take charge.
And you know what? When you accept that mantle and become the leader you can be, you'll find that it's one of the best experiences imaginable for your personal growth and development. You'll feel more confident, more capable and more authoritative, and that can completely transform the way you see yourself.
So now the big question: can one learn to be a leader? Are some people simply destined to be good leaders, while others will always be disrespectful and clumsy in that role?
