Member-only story
I was a quiet kid, shy and eager to please. Over the years I lost pieces of myself, being and doing whatever it took to be liked. It was comfortable staying in the background and not calling attention to myself. I had all the makings of a follower. The last thing I wanted was a leadership role; it was just too risky.
It all came to a head at the age of 47, and I still have a visceral reaction when I think about it. My son was at Hyde School, a boarding school of family-based character education and leadership development. We chose Hyde for him, and for us. There was a rigorous, parallel program for parents that challenged everything about me. I was definitely ready to take a deeper look at myself and what made me tick.
Interestingly enough, as difficult as it was, I took to it immediately. In the safety of the Discovery Group, I learned to examine my thoughts, beliefs and motivation. I could be vulnerable in sharing my feelings without fear of judgment or retribution. (Honestly, I still felt the fear, but in the end truly appreciated the exploration.) So far, so good.
Another piece of the parent program involved monthly regional meetings, led by parents. At our January retreat, it was time to consider who would take on a regional leadership role for the next year. Current leaders consulted with school staff to come up with…
