Three Leadership Qualities for Uncomfortable Times

Almost exactly five months ago, after the death of George Floyd, I made the following personally bold statement on my blog and LinkedIn.

Some argue that LinkedIn is not a platform for social topics, they say it's a place where your conversations should reflect the same as those you would have "in the office." They caution that what you say here goes on your permanent record; it's seen by your organization, co-workers, bosses, and future bosses. Well, my character, my professional strengths, my thought leadership, and my passions involve people and their experiences.

Every day I seek understanding of the experiences of those I serve. Every day I lead with empathy, trying to feel others' perspectives and points-of-view as if they're my own. Every day I choose to have difficult conversations to gain that understanding.

My job as a leader is to serve those I both directly and indirectly lead. It's to acknowledge the undercurrent of the thoughts and feelings around me and give name to them. To speak for, fight for, and support the smaller voices. Sometimes silence can be a powerful method of engaging in tough conversations, other times it's detrimental to strengthening relationships. Right now, silence is not positively impacting the topics of racism, diversity and inclusion, and how we can contribute to the greater good of humanity and equality for all, not just some. Let's change this.

As we're approaching the US Election Day and quickly coming to the end of the year, we need to stop, reflect, and understand what 2020 has brought us. Besides the negativity, uncertainty, grieving, and hardships, it has also instilled in us increased capacities of patience, compassion, and understanding. It has slowed our pace and allowed us to see and invest in what is truly important. It has brought difficult conversations into every aspect of our lives. And it has shone a blinding spotlight on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

It is during great times of chaos and fear that great leaders emerge. We see how ordinary people take extraordinary steps to creating change. We see how passion and persistence create movements. We see how those movements empower others to do and become more. And in a year riddled with trying economical and personal circumstances, it has become crystal clear to me the three must-have leadership qualities for uncomfortable times: integrity, humility, and empathy.

1. Integrity. You don't have to have all of the answers all of the time. You don't have to have the most popular opinion in the room. Having integrity means that no matter what, you'll speak with honesty, hold yourself accountable to your values, and do what is right - not what is easiest or most convenient.

Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not. - Oprah Winfrey

2. Humility. Sometimes you need to admit fault and failure just as well as you accept praise and success. You need to be willing to listen, learn, unlearn, and demonstrate your learnings through your actions and behaviors. Having humility means there is no room for your ego, only your growth.

It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. - Mahatma Gandhi

3. Empathy. Your experiences inform how you react to situations. If you allow the experiences of others to consume you in the same way, imagine how much more you would would understand the world around you. Having empathy means that you're willing to sit in others' experiences and feel with them.

You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive. - James Baldwin

Leaders with these three qualities understand the power of diversity, inclusion, and equity because they're in a constant state of growth. The more they learn and grow, the better they can effect change and inspire and motivate others to do the same.

I think 2020 should be the Year of the Phoenix because like a phoenix rising out of it's ashes, if we embrace the effects of this year, we will feel renewed and whole again. Let us always be reminded of the memories of this year and never forget the lessons we have learned because of them. Let us always stay awake and aware of the hum of inequalities and do better each day not to quiet them, but to focus in on them and fight to eradicate them.

In the words of leader who held all three of these leadership qualities while fighting for inequality:

Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

#dei #diversityandinclusion #equity #equality #humanity #leadership

As originally posted on LinkedIn.