Want to lead? Disturb the peace.
Today I took part in an exercise where everyone was placed in pairs and asked to guide their partner toward them across a crowded room whilst they were blindfolded.
People yelled, clapped their hands — only one person met their partner half way.
Only one person took a new view on the challenge, only one moved around the problem and caught a new glimpse on how to move forward. It seems to me that we get locked into the usual way of thinking. Without realising we support the status quo, the way things are.
When it comes down to leadership, how often do we swap out the question of ‘who do I lead’ for ‘how do I lead?’ How often do we put our energy into the pursuit of power instead of examining how we use it purposeful and effectively?
When we consider the person of Gandhi, Jesus, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and William Wilberforce amongst the great pantheon of history’s cultural change leaders we discover a common thread amongst them and a deeply disruptive take on leadership.
Disruptive of the status quo, interrupting the way things are.
Gandhi used a march instead of missles. Jesus protected the prostitute. Martin Luther King galvanised non-violent protest. Nelson Mandela walked free armed with a single weapon — forgiveness. William Wilberforce used signatures to stand against the force of Parlaiment.
The rhythm of kindness that began in these acts of services became a movements without muscle. These were hands of kindness that rattled empires with every soul they lifted up.
Today let us ask ourselves ‘how do I lead?’ What kind of revolution do you want to be a part of?
Today. Become a disturber of the peace. A disruptor of the status quo. How will you disturb your peace?
Finish here…