Have you ever found yourself in a situation wherein (for whatever reason) you wanted to just shrink into the background and then disappear? I think we all have at one time or another. The Colonel often said, “Ya gotta allow yourself to shine, kid. Don’t spend so much time ‘looking for the light’ that you forget you can be a light, yourself.”
I think Dad struggled sometimes, wondering what to do with two daughters. I think it might have been easier for him if he’d had sons to teach and mentor. Yet, everything the 20th Century told him he should only teach sons – things like engineering, football, healthy competition, leadership, how to chop wood, change a tire, or the oil in a car – he took a progressive mindset and went ahead and taught his daughters.
One of the things Dad could not understand, for the life of him, is why on earth his daughters might shrink from taking the lead on a project, or pretend to be less intelligent than they were. It was (and unfortunately, probably still is) pretty common in middle school and high school for girls to “dumb down,” thinking that this would make them less intimidating or more attractive to teenage boys. I was no different, although I snapped out of it fairly quickly after high school. The whole concept completely baffled and frustrated my father.
As adults, both men and women are sometimes hesitant to step up and step out into the spotlight for fear of what others will think of us. Will I be perceived as too pushy or aggressive? Am I too boastful?
There is a quote I love, which is attributed to the wise sage “Grandma,” that says, “Someone else’s opinion of you is none of your business.” I love that, and Dad would have too.
You can’t be a significant leader if you refuse to allow your light to shine. Being willing to shine and model how to do so with humility can inspire others to step into their own light and share THEIR gift that could help move their team or community forward.
No one would consciously hold someone else back from achieving their greatness. Yet, we might do that ourselves.
If we hold ourselves back, it’s possible the inspiration is not there for others to see and build upon. Each of us has unique gifts given to us for a reason. Use them. Don’t be afraid to inspire others. Rather than looking for a light, be willing to be a light.
Read Lauren’s Whitepaper on The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership.