Are you a leader or a follower?

It’s a question many of us wrestle with throughout life—sometimes without even realizing it:

Am I a leader… or a follower?

The truth is, both roles are valuable. Both require strength. And both are designed by God for different purposes. But knowing which one fits your God-given design can help you walk more confidently into your calling.

Let’s break it down.

Leaders vs. Followers: A Side-by-Side Look

“For just as each of us has one body with many members… so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

— Romans 12:4–5 (NIV)

Both leaders and followers are vital. One casts the vision; the other brings it to life. One steers the ship; the other keeps it afloat.

But which one are you?

My Journey: Learning Who I Was Meant to Be

Growing up, I often felt confused about who I was and where I belonged.

I had a natural talent for computers—fixing them, building them, understanding systems beyond my years. My mom saw this and immediately dreamed that I’d become the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Her vision for me was crystal clear: success, prestige, innovation.

But in that pursuit, something got overlooked.

Writing. Storytelling. The kind of creativity that can’t be coded, only felt.

That gift came from my Granny—my dad’s mom—who could make the simplest moment sound like a masterpiece. I had inherited that from her. My dad, a successful businessman and politician, saw it too. Slowly, he started noticing how much I reminded him of himself—my drive, my way with words, my ability to read a room and lead in quiet ways.

But while my dad appreciated it, my mom began to discourage it. Maybe out of fear. Maybe out of disappointment that I wasn’t following her dream for me. I still don’t fully understand why. What I do know is that their opposing views left me stuck—wondering who I really was and what I was truly made for.

Then came Lee University and later Maryville University.

And that’s where everything changed.

That’s where I learned who I was—not based on anyone else’s expectations, but in light of God’s purpose for my life.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

— Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

I was not born to follow someone else’s dream.

I was born to lead.

But here’s the most important thing I learned:

True Leaders Must Also Learn to Follow

Leadership isn’t about pride or power. It’s not about being first or having the loudest voice.

It’s about humility, submission, and serving others—even when you’re in charge.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

— Matthew 20:26 (NIV)

God showed me that even though I have the traits of a leader, I must still learn to be obedient to those in authority over me. And just as importantly, I must treat those beside me or under me with humility and grace.

That’s what keeps a leader from becoming a dictator.

That’s what keeps influence from becoming manipulation.

That’s what makes leadership holy.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus… he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…”

— Philippians 2:5–7 (NIV)

Final Thoughts: Who Are You Becoming?

Whether you’re naturally inclined to lead or find strength in supporting others, the key is this:

Be who God made you to be.

Don’t let others define your path. Seek the Lord’s direction and walk it out with faith.

Leaders, stay humble. Followers, know your worth. We all have a role in God’s kingdom—and none are greater than the other.

With gratitude and grace,

Amanda

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