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.