I hope
this blog finds everyone doing well. I have been “radio silent” for a few weeks
due to an exciting new development that I will share next time. But now is not
that time. Like millions of Americans, I have been struggling with the tragic
events that recently occurred in Charlottesville, VA where a deranged
individual drove into a crowd of people that were counter-protesting the
presence white supremacists in that community. After all the shock, anger, and
frustration, I started to think out loud about what should be the helpful response to these events. I
rarely comment in national affairs in that I prefer to help who I actually can, where I can, and how I
best can. But after all the righteous indignation and condemning is done,
what is left?
Allow
me to present a few thoughts that some of you are going to like and some may
not. Fortunately, I recently attended the incredible two-day Global Leadership
Summit simulcast with incredible speakers that helped inform some of these
ideas. In responding to such an event and other tragedies of violence, I
believe that as leaders we need to practice the following:
Self-Response – like me, I am
sure your Facebook feed blew up with the thoughts and impressions of others.
Whereas these comments were the valid opinions of others, it struck me that we
cannot point out the hate of others while denying our own. As leaders,
we have to be very clear about our own biases and prejudices before we can
highlight that of others. If you are going to claim the moral high ground, you should
be very clear that your position is defensible and you do not engage in the same
negative rhetoric you accuse others of.
Other-Response – According to juvenile
offender advocate Bryan Stevenson, we have to get “proximate” with others we do
not understand or not necessarily want to spend time with in order to influence
them. Sure, you may not always impact a hardliner on either side of the
spectrum, but the goal of leaders and leadership is to influence and enroll
others to what is right and honorable because we are never going to shame or insult
our way to changing hearts and minds. If you are truly sincere about affecting
positive change, you should be willing to listen to the perspectives and
concerns of others to include them in that change. Remember the old leadership
maxim that people support what they help create.
United-Response – all this
leads me to the next point. We live in a time of incredible polarization
socially and politically. Unfortunately, I believe some people like it that
way. Playing the “us” versus “them” game validates our beliefs, attitudes, and
actions. When we believe someone is wrong or somehow “less than”, it gives us “permission”
to treat them in a less than respectful manner. Politicians and pundits don’t
divide us, we do a pretty good job doing that to ourselves. Trust me, I know
people and their opinions can be frustrating but the bottom line is that it takes
more effort and courage to be a uniter than a divider. The question is, which
do you want to be? What do you want to unite people around?
Courageous-Response – speaking
of courage, we should pay attention to the words of Gary Haugen. Gary heads a non-profit,
international organization that seeks to abolish the slavery and exploitation that
still occurs in developing nations as well as the child sex trade. His work is
incredibly dangerous so he has earned the right to speak about bravery and
leadership. In his comments during the Global Leadership Summit, Gary
recognizes that being brave is hard but to not let fear stand in the way of knowing
the right thing to do and actually doing it. But like fear, courage is contagious.
When addressing a difficult issue, bring a community of courage around you. As
leadership guru John Maxwell shares, no one does anything great alone.
Again, I do not expect you to agree with everything I
write here, but the fundamental question remains, do you want to make things better though your leadership? Do you
earnestly desire a just and united
society or just one that meets a no-compromise criterion?
As always if I can help you and the
people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would
invite you to contact me. I would also encourage you to keep the
Charlottesville, VA community as well as those directly impacted by these
recent events in your thoughts and prayers.
Yours in Leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Principal Consultant –
Out Loud Strategies
Independent Coach,
Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email = bill@outloudinc.com
