KevinTest
Consider for a moment that we are all on a journey and we are travelling in a van. There is seat for everyone. With this in mind, think about what seat you would choose to sit in if you could choose any seat that you wanted? Would it be the driver’s seat, the passenger’s seat, the middle seats, or the back seats?
The passenger’s seat would allow you to co-pilot the van, hold the map, and give guidance in reaching predetermined destinations.
The middle seats allow you to be surrounded by people so you can be the life of the party. You have many opportunities to socialize with everyone.
The back seat allows you to be secluded to an extent. No one is behind you and you can take it easy. There is more time for observing and thinking while seated in the back.
The driver’s seat is reserved for the driver. They make the ultimate decisions on the direction of the van. While seated in the passenger’s seat you may be tempted to critique, second guess, question directions and/or wonder why the driver has chosen to make certain decisions.
If you find yourself doing this too often, then you will want to make plans to change seats in the near future. You can’t change seats with the driver while you’re traveling down the road, nor can you switch seats if he’s still in it. However, an ever-increasing desire to take charge is a sign that you may be ready for the next level of leadership. The way you react while riding down the road will tell you a lot about your personality and what seat you are suited for.
The driver’s decision will impact everyone in the van, so it’s important to support your leader when you’re not in the driver’s seat and view this time as preparation for when you will become the driver. The way you treat the driver within the van will be viewed by others on the journey, so it will be important to set a good example in case you’re asked to sit in the driver’s seat someday. However, there are no guarantees you will ever be asked to sit in the driver’s seat within the same van, so you will either need to accept this and enjoy the ride, or begin to explore what vans are looking for a new driver to provide leadership that will get them to their desired destination.
I know this analogy may be driving you crazy, so give me your thoughts to steer me in the right direction. I know there is more than one way to arrive at your final destination, so share some of your stories from the roads that you’ve been traveling.
I really enjoyed this analogy, it stirs lots of thoughts in me. Such as are the different seats our positions in life? Are all of the seats in van leading up to the drivers? Who decides when we change seats? Are we ever forced to change seats? Do the occupants of the van ever vote on new drivers? Seems like this is an oppurtunity to for a multi part series. Sometimes I feel like I am driving and dont want to, sometimes, like now, I feel like I am the passenger and the driver dosent care for my opinion on where we are going. Great article Brian, Thanks.
All I know is that I get car sick if I am not driving the car!
Sometimes the person who is in the “secluded” section is in the best position to observe, learn and take action when needed. Sometimes it is not the person who is questioning or second guessing who is best prepared to take the lead, but the person who has the best seat in the house to see the whole picture and to lead when the opportunity arises to do so.
Leaders step up from all directions in life.
This analogy of seats and where one is sitting reminds me of something from baseball. It’s not always the Hall of Famers who make the best managers. Take Sparky Anderson for example. As a player, he spent all but one year in the minor leagues and in 1959 finally made his major league debut. Sparky played only one season and had a .218 batting average. With this in mind, it’s evident he spent a lot of time on the bench observing other players and learning the nuances of the game, what worked in this situation and not in others. He learned to lead by watching others and when given the opportunity to manage……..
Thanks for this post and the realization that regardless of where we are in life, we can influence others.
Excellent insight!