The first thing I noticed was that I felt overburdened and under appreciated. Most people were quick to criticize the smallest mistake I made, but compliments for my energy and time commitment were nowhere to be heard. Then I noticed that when I took action on some club matter, there would always be at least one person who would complain or fight my decision. Some of the arguments very nearly broke into fights. Luckily, I took a deep breath and answered dispassionately. Within these situations I found an appreciation for leaders. They must maintain themselves to a higher standard simply out of necessity. They are under far greater scrutiny. They must also possess the self-control to deal with dissent. It is near impossible to make everyone happy, so the best decision must be arrived at and maintained.
As far as directing goes, I'm looking for a careful balance between presenting the show as it plays out in my imagination and making the actors look good. They each have strengths and weaknesses which I must try to accommodate. Ultimately, my goal is for the audience to think that THEY did great. If they succeed. I have succeeded. I think this aspect of directing applies splendidly to leadership. A good leader helps those he leads succeed and be recognized for their talents. In that sense a good leader is a teacher, helping to bring forth the best in each pupil.
Leadership is necessary and far from the idyllic one might imagine it to be. It is more of a burden and a sacrifice if done well, but some people are simply called to be leaders. In that sense, true leadership is an act of service. It is a giving of the self and a surrender of one's desire's for the good of the group. It is a willingness to deal with dissent, disagreement, scrutiny, and most of all to make the hard decisions and take responsibility for them.
I am sure I will continue to grow in my views. Though I might be far from the entire truth, I can't hep thinking I'm onto something here.
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