Traveling with a group.

Day befor travel thoughts...

I am trying to come to grips with traveling with a group.  Well maybe not so much that I am traveling with a group so much as I am simply a part of the group.  Most of my life and in most of my activities I am the person who is either the leader of the group or one of the leadership team.  In my District position, when I am working with the team and not the leader, I see myself as the go-to person who has attempted to anticipate the needs of the group ahead of time and meet those needs.  It allows me to lead in my own way while not needing to be the up front guy, and leading while supporting the leadership of the main leader.  That has worked well for these last eight years.

But tomorrow I am part of a group where I have no leadership responsibilities, no real knowledge of the places we are going to or the people we will meet any more than any one else in the group and for sure a whole lot less than the group's leader, Charles.

So, at least for the next thirty two days I am not a leader.  I am not sure how to handle that.  I do know that my natural tendencies to step up and lead will need to be curbed.  And I know that the best role I can serve in this context will be to be quick to comply to directions and directives, be on time, listen carefully, and then see if there is anyone else that may in some way need my help or support - without in any way hindering the real leaders of the group.  Oh yes, and take pictures, lots and lots of pictures.  THAT I can do!!

As you see, I still have a lot to learn about this leadership thing.  this trip, that learning will be once again learning that good leaders know how to be good followers.  And I eagerly look forward to learning all I can in that process.