阅读理解

　　Leadership actually has a few simple concepts．And, I witnessed it just the other day．I have three children, all under the age of nine．Before the bus arrives at eight in the morning, I always make breakfast and arrange their backpacks．

　　But last Monday, I couldn’t get out of bed because I was sick．I thought that my husband, Chris, would handle the children．But I immediately realized that he wasn’t at home．If I’d had the strength, I would have ordered my nine-year-old daughter to help me．I was too exhausted even for that．I’m embarrassed to say － I just fell back to sleep．

　　When I opened my eyes again, the children were in front of me．Dressed．All three of them．Even though I was sick, I was suspicious(猜疑的)．“What’s going on?” I asked．

　　My nine-year-old, Sally, spoke for the group, “We made you a cup of green tea．Don’t worry．I didn’t turn on the stove; I used the microwave．” I cautiously accepted the offer, wondering what they wanted．“I heard you throwing up in the bathroom so I got everyone ready．We still have 10 minutes to get to the bus．” Sally continued．

　　What had happened to the daughter I had to force to get ready every morning? And how did she manage to motivate an eight-year-old and a three-year-old?

　　The next day, I told Chris what I had witnessed．He just said, “Our daughter is a natural-born leader．” I didn’t think so．“For a leader she is a terrible follower．”

　　Then it occurred to me that：a good leader isn’t a great follower．In fact, leadership is all about not waiting for instructions．It’s about stepping up to the challenge and leading by example－exactly what Sally had done．I had this leadership thing all wrong．

　　Without being forced, without even being asked, she stepped up．I don’t think I would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself．