Changing a ‘Before’ to ‘After’
“Woah!”, I said to myself, as I stared at a pretty welcoming setup near me. It was the same sofa, the same folding table, and the same cushions that looked a lot better than before. I felt satisfied being a part of this room, knowing that the difference would be a source of admiration for my mother, who would be the first one to appreciate my effort whole-heartedly.
The picture above displays the ‘before’ version of my immediate surroundings. This location is known as the ‘TV lounge’ of my house. In the TV lounge exists a very comfortable sofa that has recently become a bed, temporarily. Next to the sofa is a folding table that often serves meal.
Examining Your Surroundings
As I entered the TV lounge, I noticed that the place needed attention. The sofa I was heading towards was already occupied by a blanket, a set of cushions, and a rough sheet. Furthermore, the table did not please me. There were used plates and mugs on the table, accompanied by a couple of empty meal boxes!
“Time to get started!”, I whispered, as the messy TV lounge glared at me. I quickly brainstormed the tasks that needed to be performed as quickly as possible. I started off with the dishes. The empty meal boxes went into the trash can while the plates and the mugs made their way towards the sink. I washed the used crockery and placed them in their designated racks for drying.
Next, it was the sofa’s turn. I folded the blanket as neatly as I could. I removed the sheet as it was no longer needed and adjusted the cushions to ensure that the overall look obtained was pleasing to the eye.
Without further delay, I performed the last task. I used a wet, damp cloth to clean the surface of the table. There were stains, spills and a lot more. The cloth was sufficient to get rid of the waste on top. The table was clean but still looked empty. To finish off with a welcoming gesture, I decided to place a beautiful flower vase right in the middle of the table. The ‘after’ version of my immediate surroundings has been shared below.
The Outcome
It was a source of immense pleasure. Looking at a neat and tidy place, organized and managed by your own efforts is certainly a source of great pleasure. There was nothing else in the room that required attention, which was why I headed towards the sofa and started working on my laptop.
Had I not been asked to do so, I would have still performed all tasks as mentioned above. The only difference would have been the time at which these tasks were performed. I may have procrastinated and/or delayed getting into action had this been all on me, alone. Although, I have performed the tasks by myself, but I did not delay and started right away as I walked into the TV lounge of my house.
Discovering your Potential through Everyday Leadership
Everyday leadership is a beautiful phenomenon. All you need to have is a sensible heart. I was able to transform an ugly ‘before’ into a welcoming ‘after’ because of the leader that exists within me. Regardless of authority, one must sense his/her responsibilities and work towards fulfilling them in the best way possible. It could be a very small task waiting for your attention, but trust me, if you do attend to it without anybody asking you to do so, you surely know what everyday leadership and leading without authority is all about!
