In her mind blowing, life-altering book entitled, All About Love, bell hooks shares,
“To truly serve, we must always empty the ego so that space can exist for us to recognise the needs of others and be capable of fulfilling them”.
I honestly believe that in order to wholeheartedly give to others requires a complete emptying of self and the only way to do this is through waking up with this purpose each and every day. It is in that moment when your eyes flitter open and you begin to see the first light of the day. This is when you have the opportunity to reaffirm within yourself the choice, the decision, and a desire for action to truly serve others; to love them, to be; and I don’t believe that this isn’t attainable, to be, that altruistic leader.
There is a pathway to becoming authentic, free of one’s ego, a giver, a lover, and server of others. I believe that Principled leadership is attainable but it all begins with a choice to begin to take that journey. A journey that involves emptying the ego, understanding who you are, who you want to be in every moment, and what you need to do, to follow that journey. It involves a firm look in the mirror, an emptying of self.
In researching leadership over the past ten years, I was often feeling like I was having a bit of an identity crisis which I began to describe as The Spider Serum. During speaking engagements I often alluded to, Who Am I, anyway? And I Spider Man or Peter Parker? How do I reconcile who I am at home, in my community, with my family, as compared to who I am at work? Am I consistent in my approach to others? How could I reconcile who I was at work with who I was at home? I liked who I was in my volunteer leadership positions so much more than the leader I was at work. It was through asking these questions that began my discovery into leadership.
So what’s in the spider serum? I have come to believe that my spider serum resulted in Principled Leadership. An approach where I work to uphold the dignity and respect of every human being I encounter. This involved a discovery of my own values and beliefs that were core to the essence of who I was, and want to continue to be. It involved having the courage to ask honest, difficult questions about the values and beliefs that were an undercurrent to guiding my actions, interactions, and decisions.
So what is Principled Leadership, how do I become a principled leader? My research highlighted my proposed theory; that becoming principled involves an understanding of identity (self), of who you are and integrating your values and beliefs into your leadership practice so that you bring the best version of you to everything. Providing an authentic, consistent, and balanced perspective to your professional life through love and caring in service of others. This will be the leadership approach that underscores your everyday decision-making. It involves opening the door and emerging from the phone booth and participating in a journey of self discovery. Embracing your identity, a knowledge of self as leader.
Asking yourself, What is your inner compass? Why do you/can you, remain steadfast in these values and beliefs? Just a few questions to ponder given these difficult times when our leadership approach may be challenged the most.
Blessings upon blessings to you.
sharon
PS. Sharing a recent pic taken with four of my oldest, closest friends (with the exception of a few who weren't with us this day), they are the most amazing women and I am so grateful to have them with me on this journey shaping the woman, my identity, I am becoming.
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