A Leadership Story

Sometimes leadership requires you go places you’ve never been, or chart paths that are unfamiliar to you.  I was asked to play bagpipes in a 9-11 ceremony for a nearby fire department.  I knew we would be marching in a parade from the fire station to a park for the ceremony.  As I drove into town, I didn’t notice where the park was relative to the fire station.  As the time to begin drew near, I asked the Chief where I was in the lineup, and I was surprised when he told me I was leading.   There wasn’t time to see where we were going and the program was about to begin. I was leading over 100 people to a place that was only described to me.  Because of the pipes, I couldn’t look back. I had to trust my instincts and hope I got to the right place.  If I had made a wrong turn, I would have been by myself because they all knew where the park was located.  

Leadership requires you to trust your instincts when the path is not known.  Sometimes followers know what to expect, and sometimes not.  Trust your instincts, lead with confidence and you will probably have a good outcome.  I successfully led the group to the park and participated in a moving ceremony that honored our fallen Heros.