Literate Leadership
Lesson #1 Empathy as a Bridge
As I prepared to share what I believe are some critical insights on what I call, "literate leadership" I thought about the varied approaches I could take. At the time of this writing I am 42 years old and I have spent the better part of my adult life in leadership. In my early 20s I started my first business and alongside my then husband I ran a small residential construction company. It was extremely successful for several years and eventually the growth led to a merger with another company. I'm proud to say it continues to this day although I'm no longer involved.
In my mid 20s I became a part of a faith-based community. While there I found that I had a very wide and deep inclination towards God and spirituality. I quickly became an integral part of that community and was trusted as a leader. I spent my time doing spiritual counseling, making hospital visits, taking care of a widow's group, teaching children and enjoying speaking engagements.
In my late 20s I began successfully investing in real estate with my construction company and by my early 30s I started my real estate business as an affiliate broker.
By the time someone reaches their 30s they begin to become very reflective. There is a level of self-awareness that sort of dawns on you that gives you clarity on where you've been and where you want to go. It was here I had some profound shifts in my leadership career. I found that certain ideas and philosophies that served me and those in my care while I was in my 20s simply would not convey for the maturing version of who I am as a leader. This is where I'm going to take a step back and share from the perspective of a follower.
First of all, it should be noted that since an early age I have lead against the odds and in arenas where women are not well represented. In short I started my leadership career amongst and in care of mostly men. The construction industry and the religious leadership arena are heavily dominated by men. In retrospect, to have been a young woman leading in these areas is proving to be a very interesting and rewarding experience. At the time I didn't realize the nimble nature of my leadership abilities. But, as I sit here and reflect on where I've came from a young 20 something who was all heart and charisma to a 40 something who bears some gnarly battle scars I find that I am eager to share my war stories. I'm eager to talk about the shifts in my internal environment and external environment. Not only have I changed but my country has changed.
Now, onto the follower part. Naturally I have a very yielding and soft personality. I am a recovered people-pleaser. I'm a poet. A Pisces. An INFJ. A classic introvert. But, I am also charismatic, diplomatic, and empathetic. I'd like to think that I mostly operate in a great balance of feminine and masculine energies. I'm a natural encourager and cheerleader. I love to support the people and causes I believe in. Once I get behind someone or something I make sure that my admiration, devotion and energy is felt as a tangible and meaningful investment.
I think some of my greatest leadership lessons became a part of me as a follower. I'm going to make this brief but poignant. It was because of bad leaders that I developed an inner resolve to be more discerning when it came to who I allowed the power to influence my thoughts and opinions and behaviors. Because that is what leaders do. After experiencing some disillusioning situations with people I followed and was implicitly devoted to I was forced to rethink what my investments into my leaders should look like. Exit...naivete...enter...cynicism. At least for a few years anyway. Thankfully, I've healed. But, maturity and disaster have gifted me a tool that I want to gift you. And, honestly I believe that what I am about to share with you is critical to creating and supporting a healthy atmosphere locally, regionally, nationally and globally. What I experienced in Tennessee as a young 20 something woman leader is now serving me as I work with international clients. So, please hear me out on this. Promise?
Many people who are leaders, whether they be a small group leader, a religious leader, a business leader, a CEO, governor or President typically, "not always" but typically share one thing in common. Charisma. Charisma can get you places that education can't take you. Charisma can get you into social circles that money can't get you. If you are a person of charisma people enjoy sitting by your fire! They are warmed by your presence and knowledge. There are murderers in prison right now who are so charismatic that they receive marriage proposals or are successful in proposing marriage to their romantic interests outside of prison. I'm telling you charisma is a magical thing.
This is where "literate leadership" comes in to factor. There are some pretty awful leaders out there whose strongest qualification is there charisma. But, like I've been saying since I was in my 30s...charisma doesn't equal character. When someone has both of these qualities it is a powerful recipe for being a heart-centered, passionate, empathetic, successful leader. Literate leaders have at least both of these qualities and it's demonstrated in their body language, the words they choose, and the investments they make.
But, it's not all about appearances. Plenty of people do the right things for wrong reasons. Billionaires and business moguls often get thrown flowers and are lauded for supporting charities. But, people they're close to may know them to be greedy and calculating. It doesn't really matter how much one donates to charity if they cut the feet out from under the people they do business with. See where I'm going with this? It's never as simple as someone makes X amount of money and gives Y amount of money back, that proves they are a good leader.
The results and health of any government, any people, any business, or charity, lays squarely at the feet of the person or persons leading it. But, that doesn't give a free pass to the people who follow them. It is as important to be a discerning follower as it is to be a literate leader. We live in a culture where we have been so disillusioned by government structures that many are rightly suspicious and have a negative view of people who lead in larger circles, especially political and religious ones. My concern however is that due to the rightful suspicion, people are buying wholly into any media soundbite that presents an alternative view even when these views are truly and actually dangerous and lead to chaos and division.
My hope and belief is that the world stage is currently primed for heart-centered, literate leaders. I believe we are going to see an emergence of voices who will lead with not only passion and charisma but with heart and integrity. Leaders who have taken enough on the chin to know how to be gentle with the people they represent. Leaders who have had to navigate storms that some people will never face and still keep the course of their true north. Empathy will be both the hallmark of their career and the bridge they use to close the chasms we face. These are the kinds of leaders that are going to rise and I am stoked for every opportunity I have to pour into them.
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