Thursday, December 3, 2009

Taking On Secondary Leadership Positions

Have you been nominated or asked to be a leader in a club, association, society or company? You could be a committee member of a national sports association, your company’s sports and recreation club, or editorial board of your corporate newsletter.

Why did you take it up? Was it by choice, or by circumstances? What did you hope to get out of it?

What happens if you feel you are overstretched and overwhelmed by the enormous requirements of the job description and job scope? Did you know when to be assertive and express your concerns?

If you dislike your position as a secondary leader (which is over and above your key position and responsibilities at work), do you speak up? If you do not, it may mean that you may have selfish reasons for staying on. If you say that you have no choice, it may telescope your limitations and lack of self-belief.

Knowing when to step down when you realize your limit can be useful. It does not reveal your weaknesses or incompetency. It just means that you may have lost your drive, lacked the passion, or exhausted yourself in the duties and tasks. Rather than burn out and be an unpleasant team member, it may be better to cut your losses and step down, or take on a lesser position.

Sometimes, it may be better to step down than step up to the repetitiousness and boredom of a job you detest. You cannot impose passion, or get passionate over something that has reduce meaning or relevance for you.

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