Inspiring leadership is about taking the narrow path
When you choose to make things better, be ready to face opposition. People who otherwise you’d think are comrades may object not only your actions and your vision, they may object you. You’ll be labeled, you’ll be ruled out. You’ll be the uninvited, unwanted one. Such resistance should come as no surprise. It should be expected.
Aiming up leads to a very narrow and treacherous path that only a few can bare to walk. Improving your environment, making it fairer, cleaner, stronger, and wiser will often times make people unease. Advocating for excellence and higher standards will often trigger feelings of threat as it implies change, and all change comes with uncertainty and risk. Most people detest uncertainty. It also implies the current establishment may be failing to lead. No one in a leading position enjoys hearing that. We rather think of ourselves as celebrated and wanted, not at fault.
Deep inside, people know they, and those around them, can be so much more. We all desire to live up to our full potentials and collectively build something to be proud of. Many times we derive our pride from trivial achievements. There is nothing wrong with that. But humans do enjoy celebrating greatness and higher achievements. Everyone secretly aspires to transcend and be involved in something “greater than ourselves”. Significant and meaningful endeavors, that will last and leave a legacy behind.
Seeing someone else, an outsider, making the case for excellence in our own playground can make us feel judged and unworthy, as we know, ultimately, it is up to us to bring our best version in everything we do.
“Why haven’t I been doing the things I know I should? Why is my house not in order?” That’s a mental burden some people want to avoid becoming conscious of.
In extreme cases, there may emerge a culture of avoidance and mediocrity, socially punishing those willing to improve things around. That’s to prevent changes, uncertainty and risk. When this happens, attempts may be made to turn people into fearful, victimized, mentally weak, and fully dependent on the establishment for safety and reassurance.
It sounds crazy and detached from our day to day reality, but if we look closer, we’ll see this psychological thriller been playing out over and over again. And that is becoming the recurring and defining story of this generation.
Fortunately, there’s a strategy for facing mediocrity: before attempting to be a lonely hero in the midst of apathy, make sure to ignite enough fire in the hearts of those who share the same values and vision as of yours. Be with them. Prepare them. Inspire them. They’ve been waiting for the call. Teach them by walking the narrow path, by taking lightly all criticism and by overcoming opposition. This is the only way.
Show others there is enough people who care about doing things rightfully. When we see enough people doing what’s right rather than what’s expedient, we are much more willing to embrace change. We get inspired as we realize our efforts will be seen, recognized and rewarded. What kills people’s motivation is the belief that doing what’s right will not only NOT be rewarded, but will be punished. It’s the belief the narrow path will engulf and destroy us along the way.
“You are overthinking. You are overdoing it. There’s no need for this. It will be all good.” This is as close to hell as it may get for someone who cares about fixing what can and should be fixed. Such dynamics exist more often than we think, not only on the broader societal level, but also and mainly on smaller scales: on families, social relations, in the workplace, in our minds. Such experiences are extremely life-draining to those involved.
It is our responsibility as leaders to teach people how to be courageous enough to take that narrow path, to keep going despite discouragement because the alternative is preventing the world from seeing our light and benefitting from our gifts. And that is a real tragedy, a waste of one’s life and potential.
So, face opposition, make your environment better, do what’s right, overcome the opposing mediocrity, walk the narrow path, be the change. Do this for yourself, do this for everyone around you. People are hungry for that. They depend on you. And life itself depends on it.
Know it in your heart: life can and should be better. Don’t hesitate doing your share.
