certain qualities among your passions that compel you to work through others  acknowledging and reaching their potentials

Satisfaction comes in the form of watching others grow, celebrating in the achievement of milestones, and finding happiness in the smiles of those they lead.

The greatest responsibility that accompanies leadership is to help people become better. I have known leaders who helped people to produce more, improve efficiencies, increase knowledge. I have also known leaders who helped people to become better mothers and fathers, friends, and community contributors.

I am fortunate to have had several mentors who made an impact on my direction thus far. Some were obvious mentor relationships, such as direct supervisors. These relationships lasted for long periods of time and followed a traditional cycle. Others may not even know that they are mentors to me, yet in some fashion have made a positive impact on my direction.
One individual who I admire greatly for her strength is someone I had only known for a few short months and who I could count on one hand, the number of conversations I had with. Her name was Andrea and she was a manager at a store where I was a clerk some time ago. We did not know each other well as there were several layers of hierarchy between us and our paths did not cross much in the course of a work day. I must have been eighteen years old when we knew one another yet her words changed my entire course and continue to guide me in present time.
While waiting in line to make a purchase after work, Andrea approached me. I was surprised that she had sought me out to speak directly. She did not exchange pleasantries prior to getting to her objective. Andrea’s nature was bold, short, and to the point. She smiled at me as if the muscles around her mouth did not know how to pick up the corners from her lips, just a slight nudge in one corner. She wanted to know when I was planning to pursue a promotion at work. I let her know that given my circumstances at home, I was not sure if I could. Andrea turned in slightly closer to me, looked me square in the eye, and said, “…my dear for you, it is not a question of can, it is a question of when, and that is all up to you.” At that moment the background faded away, noise from cash registers, shopping carts, and others conversations went silent. I stared back at Andrea, realizing that she had been observing and that she saw something I had not been willing to see in myself. If we were playing a basketball game, she had just thrown the ball in my court. We exchanged no other words. I nodded my head as she turned and walked away in her usual brisk fashion.
It was that moment that I decided never to compromise my future aspirations for current circumstances. Everything changed after that moment. What’s more is many moments have taken place since then where I have thought back to our quick exchange to lead in my decision making. Andrea empowered me with her words, made me feel that I was important, and created a sense of urgency in me to push forward. To this day, I am not sure if she knows the impact her words had on me yet am thankful for that short moment in time.
We as leaders hold a great responsibility to inspire progress. It is up to us to be willing to challenge those around us with a different perspective. Without challenge, we cannot help others to grow. Without the growth of those around us, we are not leaders. People count on us to create environments where they can thrive. Be willing to challenge those around you to achieve the potentials you see within them, you may never know how one moment can impact the course of another.
To Andrea, with great appreciation.
Rebekah