A Leader, I Am…

It seems that going from a team player to a team leader is inevitable in someone’s life. In as much as you enjoy being on the front line when going on an all-out battle, time will come that you will have to step back, let others go ahead, and make sure that they do not go wandering about, not knowing what to do and where to go.

Avery Johnson went through that phase — from being the pointguard of the San Antonio Spurs to being the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Same with Dennis Ritchie, from being a crack programmer to project lead at that well-known Bell Labs.

I may be going through that same thing right now. It may have been knocking at my senses for a long time, only I wasn’t really willing to accept it.

I have been giving much thought about it these past few days.

Now I accept it. I have to and I must, and now I am very much willing to.

It’s my turn to lead, just as somebody did for me for the almost 10 years I’ve been with the company.

Now I could have a chance to do everything the way I see that it should be done.

Now I could make much more of a difference — not only on a part of a whole, but how that whole is to be shaped and what composes that whole.

Not only in my project could I make a difference and extend my influence — but on my team members as well.

Yes, I am a Leader now, and will be. I will be able to reach a lot more success than I did when I was just ‘one of the guys’.