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A leadership role is never an easy one, but it can definitely be a great learning experience for anyone assuming the responsibility. I also believe that for an establishment to give one such role, the person must have shown that he or she is capable.

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Leadership involves leading, guiding, and managing people, and, as you know, human beings are the most difficult living things to manage; they have different personalities and different levels of understanding. So I see this role as a no-easy one, which requires that the leader be competent, a great communicator, an organizer, a motivator, etc.

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There was a time I was required to step into a phase of leadership; it was just a brief moment. It was not too difficult, and it helped me grow in my profession. Although I rejected it at first due to the fear of leading others, I later reconsidered and assumed the responsibility.

My experience

When I graduated from the university, I went back to Zenith Dental Lab Abuja, where I did my industrial training (IT) as undergraduate, and lucky enough, I was hired, although with further training in some modern dental technology practices, which the lab upgraded into. This modern technology practice, which I had never learned in school, provided an opportunity for me to learn and update myself. I must admit that my level of commitment to the learning process was commendable. I didn't want to snooze on such a free offer that others pay $200 to learn. After a few months with Zenith Lab and all the experiences so far, the lab took five industrial training students, and I was made the head of the IT students. Like I mentioned before, I was scared of accepting such a role. I saw it as a big responsibility to manage those students for the four months they will stay in the laboratory learning. But then I accepted the responsibility, and we began the journey together.

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The difficulties with the role

You know, students coming for industrial training are not always people with vast experience. They are coming to learn, obviously, and then, being that I am to walk them through the whole learning process, it was too demanding and time-consuming. Sometimes, those with low learning levels draw me back, and I keep repeating myself, doing a particular practical over and over. It was a big headache, I must confess. It's not easy to pass knowledge across. Many times, I leave the office very late if we can't finish a particular process we began, and it makes me run into traffic, getting home late always and leaving so early the next morning. Sleep deprivation became inevitable too. Sometimes, I will instruct them to do A and they will be doing B. It was just two people that were really impressing me, so I made them assistant tutors to other students as a way to relieve me a bit

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I adapted with the role and learned more..

I wasn't so perfect in the practice as well, so being their tutor pushed me into further learning. Sometimes they come up with complicated questions theoretically, and this forced me to learn more in order not to mess up. To be ahead of them and be able to pass on adequate knowledge to them as the role demanded, I worked part-time Saturdays on a few occasions, learning more practicals, and it did help me a lot in my profession. My communication skills were enhanced too, and managing people became an added advantage during the leadership role. I also saw how encouragement and motivation pushed my team of five to do better during the course of their learning under me.

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In conclusion, as much as leadership responsibilities aren't an easy task, learning is inevitable with the role, and of course, learning never ends.

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