When Leadership Finds You

I did not plan for it.
One day, I was part of the team, laughing through deadlines, sharing ideas, debating approaches, and the next, everything changed. Our leader retired, and suddenly there was a gap to fill. Before I could even catch my breath, the lot fell on me.

To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. How do you lead a team you were just a member of yesterday? How do you suddenly become the one others now look to for influence, direction, and clarity, when you are still trying to find your own footing?

It is one thing to prepare for leadership; it is another thing entirely when leadership finds you unexpectedly. The dynamics shift, conversations change, expectations rise, and suddenly, you carry not just your work but the collective weight of others’ performance and morale.

The early days were a blur of trial and error. I was constantly asking myself, Am I doing this right? Do they still see me as one of them, or as someone trying to play boss?
It has been a journey filled with lessons, adjustments, awkward moments, and a few silent victories.

We have come a long way since those first few weeks. We are learning to move as a unit again. We are finding rhythm, clarity, and even laughter in the process. But make no mistake, it has been a rollercoaster.

If I am being honest, if I had the choice, I might have passed on this. Leadership has a way of stretching you beyond your comfort zone and beyond what you think you can handle. Yet here we are, still standing, still learning, still growing.

So, here is my question to you:
What do you do when life hands you a turn you never planned for?
When you find yourself leading without a roadmap, how do you rise to it, and what anchors you through the uncertainty?

Nugget: Readiness often grows in the doing - You may not choose the moment, but you can choose to grow through it.