The moment I got onto the choir stand on Sunday, Matt, one of the choir masters, asked me to sit on the row behind where the tenor singers were seated.
I immediately asked why because I knew I was supposed to sit with the tenors.
"You didn't attend choir practice," he replied.
For a split second, I considered arguing.
After all, I am one of the choir leaders. A part of me felt he had no right to tell me where to sit simply because I missed one rehearsal.
Then something crossed my mind.
Leaders ought to be judged more strictly.
So, I quietly took my seat.
As expected, the decision didn't go down well with everyone. There were murmurs here and there. Some people argued that Matt was being selective. Others felt that if certain high-profile singers had missed rehearsal, the same rule would never have been enforced.
Whether they were right or wrong wasn't really my concern.
What stayed with me was the principle.
When I got home after church, I found myself reflecting on the responsibilities that come with leadership.
Leadership is far more than rendering service.
Leaders are models.
They are teachers.
They stand on the front lines.
When things go well, they receive the applause. When things go wrong, they often receive the blame, even for things they did not personally cause.
I remember sitting with my counsellor one day. He asked me to choose carefully the kind of life I wanted to live.
He said I could choose the crowd, where expectations are minimal. Nobody really notices when you arrive late or leave early. No one expects much from you beyond simply showing up.
Or...
I could choose to stand on the front lines.
To lead, whether or not I carried an official title.
If I made that choice, I had to accept that I would always be judged by a different standard.
I would be expected to arrive early.
I would be expected to attend rehearsals.
I would be expected to know the songs and help those who were struggling.
I would be expected to take responsibility for outcomes that were bigger than me.
That is the price of leadership.
Many people want the recognition that comes with leading.
Far fewer are willing to accept the scrutiny that comes with it.
The higher you rise, the less permission you have to be careless.
Sometimes I wonder what my life would have looked like if I had chosen to remain comfortably in the crowd.
Looking back, I am grateful I didn't.
Choosing to lead, even when I have felt weak, overwhelmed or unqualified, has saved me from many things. There is always a quiet reminder within me that my life is being measured differently. That awareness constantly calls me to become better.
Yes, leaders receive more criticism.
Yes, they carry heavier burdens.
But they also experience deeper growth.
One of the greatest rewards of leadership is that it refuses to let you settle for mediocrity.
So, before you ask for influence, ask yourself if you are ready for accountability.
Because if you choose to stand out, you must also choose to be judged more strictly.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆?
𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸.
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