As we near the end of February and a month of exploring conscious leadership, love, and the connection between the two, I'm grateful to Jon and Becky at We Are For Good for inviting me to discuss these themes and more on a recent episode of their podcast.
Their work and conversations are among the best in the sector, and I always appreciate their willingness to go deep.
True to form, they started the discussion with a fastball right down the middle – why do so many leaders feel confused, stressed, overwhelmed, and, in some cases, in crisis? Oh, just that! It was a deep start to a rich conversation, and I encourage you to listen to the podcast for more.
But the upshot of my response was that, right now, I experience many people getting ongoing and uncomfortable reminders that the set of things we each personally control is laughably small. We architect lives that seem safe and manageable, and then SHABANG! We are suddenly reminded that we don't make the rules.
Whether it is the precariousness of the climate, an election that may not have turned out the way you wanted, the emergence of technology that is equally disruptive and transformative, rapid changes to your organization's prospects (good or bad), or any one of a number of developments, the reminders are all around. What you thought you had a firm grip on is much larger than what your fingertips can actually hold onto.
What to make of that?
My sense, and what we discuss in the podcast, is that while it may be cathartic to call foul, predict disaster, gnash teeth, and rend garments, we're at a point when criticizing, complaining, and worrying offer little social value. It's likely not a popular opinion, but that's how I see it.
Change isn't good or bad; it simply is – and we cause ourselves pain by thinking that the "state of things now" is the same as the "state of things always." We're surrounded by impermanence.
And so as we acknowledge that impermanence, it is a supreme act of both love and leadership to contribute with optimism. That doesn't mean blind faith, wishful thinking, or self-delusion. It means dragging yourself off the bench and getting back on the field, regardless of the score. It means believing in your heart that things can and will get better and sharing that belief.
You can't lead from the front when things are going well and hibernate in a cave when things are challenging. The challenging times are precisely when we most need the leaders at the front.
Leading with love means caring enough to say, "I'm committed."
In any case, I hope you'll give the episode a listen. However you look at the world right now, we need you.
🎧 Tune in now: Listen to the full episode here
P.S. If something in our discussion resonates with you, I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a note or reach out to us at Plenty Consulting. And for more on how to lead with your own light, check out our book, Leading With Light: Choosing Conscious Leadership When You're Ready For More.
Read more on conscious leadership here.
Find out more about Lantern, our retreat for conscious leaders, here.
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