It is essential and vital and as a consequence many books have been written on it. In addition, academic studies have been done on leadership. In tough and difficult times it is even more important.
In times of perceived crisis it is to the leader that people turn for guidance and reassurance.
When things aren’t normal we are faced with the challenge of moving from being comfort centred to being results orientated.
Robert Fritz in his book the path of least resistance made the point that the question that can move us from the normal, reactive state to a much more creative one is this: What results do I want to create? Coming up with an honest answer leads us from problem solving to purpose finding.
We also move from being externally directed to being more internally directed.
What that means according to Robert Quinn is changing from complying with other’s expectations and conforming to the current culture.
To become more internally directed is to clarify our core values and increase our integrity, confidence and authenticity.
Quinn believes that as we become more confident and more authentic we behave differently and in doing so, the needs of the organization become more important than our own.
When we put the collective good first empathy increases, and cohesion follows.
We create enhanced community which helps address conflicts in a more constructive and productive manner, both individually and collectively as we search for answers to what at times seem to be insurmountable problems.
Many have agreed that its counterproductive to adopt a posture of defensiveness and denial, self protection and deception mode.
We must believe that we will not only survive but become our best selves.
Staying positive is important. It is by staying positive that we have clarity of vision, self empowerment, empathy and creative thinking, which is a key factor in leadership and leading people.
Clarifying the result we want to create requires us to think things through and reorganize our lives as we become more proactive, intentional, optimistic and persistent in our role. In looking at possible solutions there is a growing sense that all things are possible.
These days the power to believe and face the future with confidence is a great advantage to have as any leader in any spare.
Optimism is of critical importance in the face of our consistently growing murder rate that has shattered the bubble of security and safety, first as individual, then as a community and most and foremost as a nation.
There are many in T&T who are wondering when will it all end as each of us seeks the spirit of courage and the determination to fight to the bitter end as we call for our leaders to stand up and deliver leadership.
In sport leadership is on and off the playing field and that leadership will either be positive or negative.
Allow me to leave you with the words of a 13th century poem by Rumi which provide food for thought.
“You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideals and dreams.
You were born with greatness.”
Some of the great inventions we all now take for granted were all the result of creative ideas by individuals who ignored the ridicule they faced while they stayed focused on possible rather than impossible, so let us refuse to allow the word impossible into our hearts and minds. Let us push to the limit and ponder on the words of George Bernard Shaw who said: “You see things as they are and say Why? But I dream things that never were, and I say why not.”
Everyone on the twin islands Republic of T&T from our head football coach of the Soca Warriors Dennis “Tallest” Lawrence, to our cricketers, Team TTO pursuit of 10 golds24, to solving the high murder rate, while battling the economic recession have the challenge of refusing to allow the words impossible into our hearts and minds.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Brian Lewis is the president of the T&T Olympic Committee. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the organisation.