“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those that never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows
What comes to mind when you hear the word “leadership”?
For a long time, “leadership” to me, meant charismatic figures standing on top of podiums, delivering powerful speeches with ease and winning over the hearts of thousands. People listen intently to what they have to say next. Leaders are courageous, unafraid of speaking their mind and facing opposition. They fight for noble causes like peace, freedom, or equality. Their names and actions echo to this current day. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Gandhi, all of them are commonly recognized as leaders, and rightfully so.
Then there’s me.
I am the ordinary, everyday person. I try to do well in school, but procrastination plagues me from time to time. I am unsure of what I want to be in this world that seems to favor engineers, doctors or lawyers. I grew up as a shy kid, and to some extent, I am still like that. Speaking in front of a group is daunting – I will rehearse my lines constantly in my head before I actually say them. I am not too social, I tend to wait for others to approach me.
In midst of all of this, am I a leader?
Yes, but that’s because my definition of leadership has changed over the years. A leader is usually seen as someone who stands out in a group and directing people where to go. It is a leader-follower relationship. On the contrary, I believe that there is also quiet leadership. Instead of our minds automatically going to well-spoken, outgoing individuals, we should recognize that perhaps most leadership happens behind-the-scenes.
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa
Where does leadership emerge from?
Leadership emerges out of unsatisfactory conditions and the realization that it must change. Leadership emerges from oneself. It is a process of self-empowerment. Each day taking small steps towards a destination. It starts with the people closest to us. It’s our friends and family, not grand stadiums with seats filled up.
Coincidentally, my journey as a leader started in a grand stadium, at an event called We Day, hosted by the non-profit organization Free the Children. Thousands of students from around the province were invited to a day of celebration and inspirational stories.
Spencer West who had both of his legs amputated at a young age, yet redefined possible by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain. Molly Burke, who lost her eyesight due to a rare condition and learning to deal with people who bullied her. The Kielberger brothers, who started this now international movement, from a handful of students responding to the death of Iqbal Masih, a 12-year-old activist against the horrors of child labor.
Then there’s me.
Again, I questioned myself. Although all these people were inspiring in their own way, I could not help but feel that I was inadequate. I was a tiny sprout living under the shadows of towering trees. At first, this discouraged me. I was struggling to define who I was and what my purpose was. It took a long time for me to come to terms about what leadership meant to me, but it has been clear ever since.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, to learn more, to do more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
Leadership as a way of living
All great leaders started small. Leadership does not happen overnight, it is the steady inclusion of activities for the betterment of the world. This eventually stops being a conscious thought, and becomes a normal part of your day-to-day life. It is a shift in mindset from oneself to global awareness. It is making others happy. It is supporting others. It is sparking one’s passion.
This was a life-changing revelation, because my previous concept of leadership was out-of-proportion. That is not to say that the people I have mentioned are any less important, but that I too have the power to what they have done. Instead of feeling inadequate, I now look up to them as role models. We are all capable. One person cannot do everything, but they can do something.
For me, it has been a journey of discovering my strengths and weaknesses. Volunteering has played a key role in shaping who I am, because it has allowed me to experience the joy of altruism. I’ve had the chance to meet many amazing people who have broadened my perspective on life. On the flip side, I realized that although I could convey my ideas clearly on paper, translating them to reality proves to be a challenge. Putting myself out there goes against my introverted nature, but it’s been rewarding.
We are our greatest limitation and our greatest motivator. Negative thoughts can easily cloud one’s perception of the world, rending them unable to the see endless opportunities that are out there. All leaders have had to reckon with their own doubts and insecurities, before being capable of helping others. They did not cast off their fear, but instead realized that there were causes more important than fear – things worth stepping out of their comfort zone for. They lead by example.
Once they did, that was their first step in being a leader. Leadership is something achievable by everyone, because it starts from within ourselves – it is a seed waiting to be cultivated. It is how we choose to lead our lives and how we can affect those around us positively. One day, you will look back and be surprised by how far you have come. However, all journeys started with a single step.
Have you started your journey?
Further Reading
The Power of Introverts is a TED Talk by Susan Cain about her experience as an introvert in a world of extroverts. She explains the important of respecting each other’s needs and collaborating together to make the world a better place.
Everyday Leadership is a TED Talk by Drew Dudley about how leadership has become something bigger than us, resulting in us devaluing our contributions. He recounts a story of how small things can change someone’s life.
The rarest commodity is leadership without ego is a TED Talk by Bob Davids about how to be an effective leader. Actions speak louder than words. A leader guides by example what to do, but they shouldn’t become egotistical from this. Instead, they give back to their followers more than the followers give them.
We Day is the official website of the We Day movement. You can learn more about what Free the Children does as well as information about its speakers. We Day Alberta 2014 is going to be held on Nov 3. I strongly recommend you attend, especially if you haven’t done so before.