Very interesting you should bring this up. It's a topic I've been pondering a lot lately.
Throughout most of my teenage years, I was quiet, kept to myself, the laid-back follower. But as I began to get involved in the teen group at my church, I started seeing a need for a leader. I began attending events and being active in the group, and I started being a leader by example. Later on, I began developing into a verbal leader as well. My tendency to act wacky and attempt to elicit laughter was a means for me to break the ice, get close and have influence.
Now, I find myself in a curious position. Going to classes at college now, despite having been homeschooled, I am very outspoken and a verbal leader. I am the one to initiate discussion in groups, get things moving, and try to get things organized, because most everyone else is afraid to. I encourage participation. However, my leadership actions are not my natural inclination. I accepted them by necessity you might say. Now I find myself teetering in the balance between how I am going to further define myself. Am I to go back to being the solemn, thoughtful type, which is my normal tendency, or become the outspoken, outgoing leader, which is not that much of who I really am?
To sum it up, I don't necessarily desire to be a leader, but I realize somebody needs to be and am willing to step up and fill the gap if I have to. Anyone else in a similar situation?
