Stay in your lane! How many of us heard that one before? You may have been learning how to drive, or overhead someone use it in reference to the fact that people just don’t know know how to mind their own – big facts!
Working in a profession where you hear the word “lead” and/or “leadership” numerous of times throughout the day can spring some self reflective moments that leave you wondering if you’re being an effective leader or not. In my case, leading a group where the vast majority is either older than you; or within the same age range doesn’t make it easy but challenging accepted.
See I like to stay in my own lane, and if someone asks for help they will know when I’m coming into their lane, and once I’ve exited. One thing that I don’t appreciate and I’m sure you can agree is when someone cuts you off to take over what was clearly your lane – shaking my head! I remember working with someone who became the black sheep on the job; and it wasn’t because they had something different about them that people weren’t willing to accept, it was their funky aura and series of sporadic personalities that nobody had the time or day to keep up with.
Everyone in the department knew their job and handled their business to keep the boss from looking over their shoulders, or giving out extra tasks as if he were Santa, and he was doing us a favor. Unfortunately, the department started treading lightly when dealing with this black sheep because one moment things were cool; and the next…well insert your choice of words [here].
I had a clear path minding my own until that same person cut me off to linger in my lane. No lie, I wasn’t pleased and I wanted to share a few, we’ll technically several words with them; but things didn’t get any better after we talked. After a few l miles down my lane I just had to be honest with myself and realize that I couldn’t move that person all by myself. They didn’t know how to take a hint and whether it was purposeful or they genuinely had no clue I couldn’t take it any longer. So I prayed and prayed and thanks be to God, He had theeee best way of moving them out of my lane.
There it was, the main solution for my problem was easily taken care of by asking God.
See a lot of times people will cut into your lane for a number of reasons, and we may think that we can move them ourselves; but where does that leave you? – Drained and irritated. We can hinder our ourselves and drive our sanity tank low thinking that we can move someone ourselves, when the best route is to ask God! Once God puts his hands in it, I’m taking mine out and moving forward. Let God lead the way for you as you’re driving in your lane that way when someone decides to cut you off, God’s blocking game is so strong you don’t even realize what the other person is trying to do; and they never make it to your lane. Some may drift over to test you but don’t let them cause you to fail your test.
As for the black sheep, they moved to another department and became someone else’s problem; but I’m sure with time and the willingness for them to change and stay in their own lane they will be just fine. Let God be your Lane Leader so he can block those who try to cut you off.
Peace, Love and Smooth Sailings!
