A Call To All Leaders
“Do not wait for leaders, become them.”
Leaders, it is time to rise.
Each of us holds a leader inside us.
Each of us is brought here as the most beautiful, powerful, and capable beings we ever could be.
It’s already within us.
We already hold the power.
We just need to believe it.
You have to activate the power within you to let it come to life.
With the world living through one of the most influential civil rights movements since the 1960s, a global pandemic, and each of us being asked to step up during times of conflict — we have the opportunity to create something new.
As people fight through the confusion and complexities of the world, there is one thing all leaders can offer to help bring a sense of salvation.
It is something every great leader depends on, something to help us keep moving in times of defeat.
Something, that when shared with others, gives us the strength to create something new. Something, that when shared in numbers, creates a ripple effect of inspiration.
It gives us the strength to keep moving forward.
It reminds us we CAN create something new.
It is something every great leader depends on — that something, is hope.
It is the power of hope that paves the way for something new.
“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Great leaders inspire; they give their community hope.
They remind us that change is possible.
A good leader doesn’t always have all the answers — they just show up.
They remind us it’s okay to struggle; it just doesn’t mean we give up.
True leaders let us see them fall, so we can watch them rise.
They remind us that we are leaders too.
They remind us what we have inside.
Passion. Courage. Wisdom. Strength.
Hope.
Here’s the secret, the key to being a great leader isn’t about your management skills, it’s not about the number of followers you have, in real life or on the gram, it’s not about even about how many times you succeed or fail.
It’s about giving back to your community.
Because no matter what you have been told, one person alone can’t change the world. It takes a team.
Here’s a letter to the emerging leader because right now — We need you.
1. Open Your Heart
If you want to be a leader during these changing times, you’re going to have to let your guard down, way down.
You’re going to be in the trenches.
You’re going to feel the pain.
You’re going to make lots of mistakes.
This is what it means to be a leader.
Have you ever heard the phrase love is risky? So is leadership.
That’s because one cannot exist without the other.
Leaders cannot lead without love.
They need to love their people. They need to love their mission.
They need to love their purpose. They need to love their community.
Anger & greed die out. Love, love lasts forever.
The kind of love you have for your children, your pets, your parents, your spouse. Unconditional love. This is the kind of love you need to have for your purpose. This is the kind of love you need to have for whatever reason you chose to be a leader.
If you want to be a leader during this new age, you need to lead with your heart.
The mind is for thinking.
The heart is for leading.
You don’t need to think about what your team needs; you need to FEEL it.
If you want to be a leader, it’s time to let your guard down and open your heart.
Great leaders practice empathy, compassion, and respect.
Allow yourself to feel.
2. Love Yourself Like You Love Your Community
Leaders make mistakes. Leaders fail. Leaders are human.
Being a leader means you can admit if you’ve done something wrong, you know when to ask for help and, you know when to take breaks.
Sure, you can fake it till you make it.
But your community will sense that.
Leaders don’t do it alone.
They admit defeat when they have to.
They forgive themselves, and they move on.
Great leaders don’t strive for perfection. They strive for acceptance.
They take their time to understand themselves. They admire their strengths and weaknesses and, their communities love them for it.
This type of self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-love IS what keeps great leaders going during their biggest moments of fear. Because yes, leaders DO feel fear; they just don’t beat themselves up for it.
They accept themselves; they rise up, they move on.
Some affirmations for the new leader:
- Instead of saying, “I always quit when things get tough,” practice saying: “When things get tough, I trust myself to find the answer.”
- Instead of saying, “I have to do it alone,” practice saying: “I have an abundance of resources and people to help me.”
- Instead of saying, “I don’t know what I’m doing,” practice saying: “I may not know all the answers but, I am capable of finding the solutions.”
You already hold all the power you need to be a leader.
You just have to believe it.
3. Trust
Trust in yourself. Trust in others. Trust in the process.
That’s it.
Just do it.
Stepping into leadership doesn’t always feel comfortable but, if you’re doing it for the right reasons, it will be worth it.
If you want to make a difference in the world, you are ALREADY a great leader.
But, don’t just be a leader.
Be the leader your community needs.
Be a leader of hope.
Inspire. Create. Open your heart.
Be the leader you were born to be.
It’s up to you to create the world you want to live in. It’s up to you to create the life you want. Now, it’s time to take action.
