I didn’t realise leadership had a sound. It’s the silence that comes after everyone waits for your decision. In my early years, I thought being a leader meant guiding others forward. I didn’t expect it to feel like carrying everyone’s expectations while pretending I was fine. Over time, I realised leadership wasn’t what I thought it was. What started as a simple responsibility soon became something much heavier.
DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP
According to the Cambridge dictionary, leadership is the ability to inspire, empower, and influence others to work collaboratively toward a shared vision. Personally, it dawned on me that leadership isn’t just about being in charge. It’s about setting an example that influences the standards of those around you, while also taking the time to understand the people you lead.
⚖️ CHAPTER 1: RESPONSIBILITY CHANGES DECISIONS
MY STORY
At the start of my school semester, my Geography teacher assigned us a presentation about how climate change affects the environment and ecosystem. The teacher described it as a challenging task, which was why we were given a month to prepare. I was chosen as the leader because I was considered one of the most well-rounded members of the group. I felt both anxiety and excitement to lead and collaborate with others. On the other hand, the weight of carrying my team’s score and reputation made me uneasy.
Our group wasn’t the best, nor was it the most collaborative. My teammates shared a common view: passing the subject was enough. It was hard to lead and encourage a team when we’re not working towards the same goals. They told me that I was setting too high standards and that it was not necessary to put a huge amount of effort into something that you only need to pass.
I had two choices: Either dedicate a lot of my time and effort to improving the project, or work together as a team while accepting lower standards, since my teammates were only willing to put in the minimum effort needed to pass. I’ve worked with many groups before, but never had a situation like this.
Finally, after a week of contemplating, I decided to put the most effort into upgrading the group project. I assigned tasks to everyone and told them to do the best; I will review and edit the project. This way, the work would still get done while achieving the best results possible with the least disruption to the team.
After mulling over my decision for a few days, I was starting to feel scared. I was doubtful whether it was the right decision at all. I was chosen to be the team leader, what if our group failed dismally? Not only will it affect my reputation, but also the grades of my teammates.Most importantly, I didn’t want to let down the trust they had placed in me.
To make sure everyone understood the risks involved, I decided to discuss my decision with the team. Fortunately, they said that as long as we manage to scrape a 5 out of 10, they are fine. I didn’t know whether this statement made me feel better or more anxious.
On the weeks leading to the presentation, I resolved to believe in myself. If I succeed (which I hoped), I would learn how to do a project best. If I failed, it would still be an experience that I was unlikely to forget. Either way, there was something valuable to learn.
The day came, and we presented our project with the utmost confidence. We received full marks from the teacher and were very pleased with ourselves. Not only that, my name was called and the teacher praised me for dealing with my “disastrous” team. I was relieved to hear that and had a reason to trust myself from now on.
EVERYTHING HAS ITS OWN BENEFIT
This experience improved my decision-making, problem-solving, and ability to handle difficult situations. It pushed my confidence and responsibility to another level, and it taught me that greater responsibility often brings greater opportunities for growth. Nevertheless, we all made great memories together, experiencing both the highs and lows of the project. This is an experience I will never forget because it gave me something far more valuable than a good grade: confidence in my ability to lead.
MORAL OF THE EXPERIENCE
My advice is simple: always do what you believe is right, even when you are unsure or skeptical. The rewards may not be immediately visible, but that does not mean they do not exist. Sometimes, we simply need a broader perspective to see them.
Responsibility was only the first weight I learned to carry. More lessons await in Chapter 2.
To be continued…
Responsibility does not make decisions easier; it makes them matter more.
Ivy Phan