Shannon stared at her desk. She didn’t look depressed, but certainly not happy.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Not much,” she replied. “I was really ready to come back to work from the holidays, but yesterday was a barn burner. Ever since I was promoted to manager, things have been different around here. It was so much simpler when I just came to work and punched a clock. Most of the time, it’s great, but there are times when things are just so frustrating.”
“So, why did you want to become a manager?”
Shannon furrowed her brow. “I don’t know. I just got promoted.”
“Why didn’t you turn it down?”
“I never thought about it. It was a promotion, I got a raise.” I could see in her face that she had never explored this question before.
“That’s the reason most people become managers,” I said, “for the money. But if that’s the case it never lasts. The second reason is ego, you know, all the authority to push people around. But that doesn’t last very long either. Management is hard work, times get tough and if you are going to survive, you have to discover why you are drawn to be a leader.”
And so I left Shannon to struggle with the same question I am asking you. Why are you drawn to be a leader?
LOL. Because I’d be fired if I were an employee. I am driven by my aspirations for a future way out there. No system is ever good enough, unless it really works well. And, even if it does, that’ll be temporary. It is easier for me to calm down and work with others, if it is my responsibility. If I worked for some poor soul, I’d be a pain in their butt.