How Will You Choose to Lead?
It's a choice to step up, show up, and speak up, and we're each wired to contribute in some way.
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
— Sheryl Sanberg
The moment we’re living makes it hard to know what to do, what to say, or what to write. The easy path is to choose to do nothing, say nothing, and put my head down to focus on my current work, trusting everything will get sorted out.
But I’m not wired that way.
I am wired to find a way to contribute — to figure out how I’m supposed to add value in any given situation. It’s not driven by a belief I possess any unique knowledge or insight, but by my firm belief in human potential.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8c22fdc-c2a2-43c4-90c6-404e079e95ee_1920x1280.jpeg)
Photo by rob walsh on Unsplash
You see, I believe we are all gifted with the ability to lead: If we commit to developing our gifts (and managing our gaps), we open the doors to creating the impact we’re here to create.
Our responsibility is to do just that.
But it doesn’t happen accidentally. It demands an intentional, and often arduous, journey. Looking deep inside and figuring out who we are and what we think:
Owning our strengths,
Acknowledging our weaknesses, and
Unlocking our potential by enduring the inevitable missteps.
Then continuing onward as we learn more about who we are, and more importantly, who we can become.
For some of us, the journey begins early in our lives.
Encouraged by someone who sees the potential within and gives us a nudge. Inspired by someone who pushes against the obstacles to make something happen and changes our view of what’s possible. Pulled by forces we don’t understand to confront the injustices we observe.
For others, the journey begins because the moment demands it.
That’s what we are seeing right now amid the tumult and turmoil in our world — people being moved to take action, looking within and deciding how they can help bring about the change they know it’s beyond time for, committing to create an impact that will last long after they are gone.
Today’s Action Question
I applaud those stepping up to change the conversation, those showing up to share their stories to reveal the depth and breadth of the challenge, and those speaking up to call out what needs to change.
They have looked within and decided how they will lead at this moment — have you?
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P.S. If you’re wondering how I’ve decided to lead at this moment, you’ve just seen it. My role in my work has long been to push people to think differently, to challenge them to rise beyond the potential they believe they possess, to encourage them to discover how to leverage the lessons they’ve earned from their journey to serve. And I’m committed to continuing to do that through these posts and in my daily conversations with emerging and established leaders.