Whether they be male or female, some people appear to be born leaders and ‘take control’ people. If there is a task to be done, they don’t hesitate; they just move ahead and do it while others are still trying to figure out what the assignment was. Take control people often are a source of irritation to those who come along right behind them. Those who are a little late with their plan to accomplish that task just have to take the back seat. Many others are just supportive and considered worker bees; they usually avoid leadership responsibility or the driver’s seat positioning. They appreciate those who are leaders and willingly follow, as long as they are not abused by a leader who may be too authoritarian. The biggest problem comes when there are other take control people in the group who resent the one who leads out. Most of them will not agree with all of the decisions that are made. One such person made an honest confession stating, “Why? Because I am kind of a control freak, I guess! It is, admittedly, hard for me to take a back seat sometimes and watch decisions being made that are different than I would have made and watch the repercussions as I then have to support the decision that is made, even when it goes badly. For me and my personality, it’s just kind of a hard position to be in sometimes.”
It is also true that some people are reluctant to lead out; they don’t ask for leadership but they just tend to stand out in the crowd, and sooner or later they are drafted to take the lead. These are they who instead of giving themselves reasons why they shouldn’t, need to start giving themselves reasons why they should. Others may see in them abilities that they apparently do not see in themselves, but given the opportunity, they can become leaders. Jack Canfield said that, “Every time…you move out of your comfort zone, you have a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and your capacity.”
There are others who are just so cocky and overpowering, that a ‘better’ leader, one who is more modest will just get out of the way. The former Governor of California is such a one. He said, “I knew I was a winner back in the late sixties. I knew I was destined for great things. People will say that kind of thinking is totally immodest. I agree. Modesty is not a word that applies to me in any way—I hope it never will.” Such a one will take the back seat for no one if he can help it. He became the Governor of California and will probably go down in history as the worst, or next to the worst, governor ever. Those who sometimes have to take the back seat are often called upon to move forward merely because the cocky one burned his own ship.
Martha Stewart said that, “Without an open-minded mind, you can never be a great success.” Those who are ‘take control’ people and who are open to suggestions and willing to listen have a much greater chance of being successful leaders than those who are close minded. Sometimes their cockiness, like the former governor’s, makes them close minded to the advice of others who may know much more about an area of concern than the leader.
Taking the back seat may be the modest thing to do but it may not be the right thing to do. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there are literally thousands of unpaid leadership positions filled every year.
These people, often, have never in their life stood before a group of people. Most members will never turn down a calling and not because it was a calling they sought after. They accept the calling (sometimes reluctantly) because they believe it is a calling inspired of the Lord and that they are needed in that position at that given time. Neal Maxwell stated that, “The Lord does not ask about our ability or inability. But only about our availability and if we prove our dependability, the Lord will take care of our capability.” We all have latent abilities and talents that may only surface after we are called to be leaders. Gracie Allen said it best, “Each of us has been put on earth with the ability to do something well. We cheat ourselves and the world if we don’t use that ability as best we can.”
Members ordinarily never aspire to leadership positions, but many do expect it, because there are so many positions to fill, and most callings have a specific period of tenure. For example, a Bishop is ordinarily called for a five year period of time. The reasoning is because of the many demands of the position, they can burn out. Every member is aware that a leadership calling may come to them at any time, yet most are aware that to aspire is an inappropriate mind set. We know that by supporting whoever is called, we can expect their support, if and when we are called, and they then take the back seat.
Taking the back seat is an appropriate thing to do if we are void of experience, because we can quickly find ourselves in over our heads. The key to driving is to get plenty of experience in observing good, qualified leaders. We might call it ‘driver’s training.’ If we learn how to drive from the back seat, opportunities will eventually come to take the driver’s seat. As Gracie said, “We must not cheat ourselves or the world of the skills we are born with” (as well as those that we acquire). May God bless us to develop and to know our talents and to be willing to drive when called upon, that we may be willing to take the back seat when a driver has already been designated for the particular trip we are on.