4. You are dreaming big dreams without an outlet to realize them. Let me be honest, sometimes you have to start something if you want it to be “your” dream. Let me also be clear, I’m a leader, but also a pastor. So the pastor in me says to make sure it’s a God-given dream, but there are times God has something He wants you to do. Not that you will accomplish it on your own, but you may have to be the one to lead the effort. That’s sometimes done from a second-chair position, but frequently, if you keep feeling setbacks along the way, it may be you need to change chairs.
5. You are ready to handle first-chair criticism. This is a big one. I chose to mix it here among the others because it’s a harder one to accept. You often don’t fully understand this one until you experience life in the first chair, but no first-chair doing anything of value is removed from criticism. Leadership involves change—leading people somewhere new. That isn’t always neat, tidy or even fun.
Some days are harder than others. Some days—in fact, some seasons—there appears to be more critics than supporters. And that, by the way, can be when things are going great overall. Are you ready for that? That requires a gut-check honest conversation with yourself and with others you trust to speak into your life.
6. You are a self-initiator. Do you take the initiative to pursue something new, or do you tend to wait until someone spurs you. First-chair leaders often need to move forward while everyone else is comfortable sitting still.
7. You influence others. This is another place where self-inspection is important. Do people seem to look to you for direction or insight? Ask yourself, are others following you naturally? In my experience, if people won’t follow you without the first-chair position, they probably aren’t going to follow you—short of force—if you move into that chair.
This post is intended to help. Actually, I hope it helps the first-chair leaders who see people in second chairs around them who may need a little encouragement—even to switch chairs, or to be patient where they are at the time. I hope it encourages some second-chair leaders to self-evaluate, ask hard questions, spend some time with God and others, and discern their next steps.
There is no guarantee you’re ever ready to be in a first-chair position. Again, no post could do that for you, but your response to some of these considerations may help you decide if you fit some of the profile of many first-chair leaders I know.
You may recall my former intern asked the question “when.” I closed my reply by telling him I don’t think there is a certain time, but there is a certain maturity for which I would look. And I think we often know if we are ready, but sometimes need someone to affirm it in us. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to speak into your life.
You’ll never be fully prepared for a first-chair position, any more than we are ever prepared for what’s “next” in our life. But, as has been eloquently said so many times before: Where God calls you, He equips you.