“Leadership is a choice, not a position.” That is the main theme of the book I am reading, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, by Steven Covey. He challenges each of us to “find our voice” and help others find theirs.
Many years ago I volunteered at a gathering in Little Rock Arkansas of grassroots leaders from around the world. None of these individuals had titles or held elected office; yet each had effected powerful change in their communities by having seen something that needed to be changed and then acting on it—often at great risk to themselves and their families. The conveners brought them together to try to learn about leadership. What made these people special… could leadership skills be taught?
By noon on the second day, the conveners had lost control of the well-planned weekend, and participants were jamming and cooking their own food—making connections (often through interpreters) and finding out how they could help each other.
There was the Nepalese teacher who organized the people in his small village to “hug the trees” – literally wrapping their arms around them–to prevent the government from cutting them down. His actions drew attention to the downstream erosion and flooding, causing the government to redesign its environmental policy.
There was the waitress from Tennessee who wondered why her girls were getting sick. She didn’t give up on finding out the cause—and stopping the illegal dumping of hazardous waste—even in the face of threats to her family. In fact, she went on to speak to other communities so the problem simply wasn’t moved to someone else’s backyard.
There was Si Kahn, songwriter and activist, who brought his two teenage sons. One day the boys were sitting together and having an emotional, but quiet, conversation—one was crying. I asked Si about this and he explained that he had taught his sons how to resolve conflict, demonstrating that leadership starts with the family.
Does each of us have the ability to see and the courage to right a wrong? Would we “stand up” in the face of danger for what we believe in… and encourage others to do the same?
What if each of us simply stepped up in some small way—in our families or at work—choosing to “be an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity”, as Covey suggests.
In the words of Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure… As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Perhaps with some intention and action, each of us can overcome the fear that keeps us “playing small” in a world that needs us to “shine”… and help others do the same.
