(Originally posted on The Be A Leader Blog…)

Has life ever handed you a hurricane of change that took you to your knees? And every time you started to stand another storm hit? A few years ago my husband and I were hit with several seasons of hurricanes. (Some literal, most figurative.) In the midst of lots of change that we had no control over, I was desperate to be in control of something! So I accepted a marketing position that I knew would challenge me and that I could learn from, even though there was a lot about the position I knew I would not enjoy.

One of my first challenges was to learn to drive a club-cab pickup truck and a 28-foot long trailer through traffic in the 4^th largest city in the United States! (Let me be clear – I am as girly as they come and I don’t get a kick out of driving a car, much less a truck!)

On the flip side, my husband is completely comfortable with that world and he knows me well. He was fully aware that this thing that I’d agreed to do had many potential downsides including having an accident! He understood that I am a visual learner and that I needed to see the big picture before details would make sense.

So he made a trip to the store and came home with a toy truck and trailer. He then grabbed some flip chart paper and drew a multiple lane road with a 4-way traffic stop and a parking lot. He put the paper on the floor, and had me drive the truck and trailer up and down the road, around the corners, and back it into parking spaces. Each time he helped me identify all the potential dangers like driving over curbs, hitting other cars, and considering how much time it takes to slow down, or stop that much weight!

I became fascinated by the process, had fun with the toys, received the perfect amount of direction and support, and still feel blown away by how well he understands me. That gift of understanding is now one of my most treasured memories.

I share that story today because every one of us is in the midst of some kind of change. The severity of those changes and the volume of changes we are trying to navigate simultaneously can intensify the pressure we are facing.

When we are surrounded by leaders that really understand us we are better equipped to handle whatever life has thrown us.

Choosing to be a leader does not mean you have to have a huge title.

• It means watching yourself closely to know where you need direction and support and learning to ask for it.
• It means watching and listening to those around you so you can identify what they need and how they learn.
• It means going the extra mile to serve someone else!  (Purchasing toys, drawing diagrams, and sitting on the floor are all possibilities!)

This viral video will warm your heart and emphasize how successful we can be when we receive that perfect balance of encouragement, and instruction! 

Are you in the midst of change? Are you looking for ways to….

• …Provide the right amount of direction and support for others?
• …Obtain clearer direction or support for yourself

If so, check out these resources:

• Self-Leadership and One Minute Manager
• The Change Cycle