Stop Talking, Start Acting

I am tired of listening and talking about what is wrong with the workplace, the community, the country, the environment, education, etc., etc. etc. I have decided it is time to act. If there is something I think should be changed, I consider what I can do to start that change. Then I do it. If I am not willing to contribute to the solution, then I stop complaining about the problem.

If you share my frustration and are ready to take action, the place to start is to identify other like-minded individuals. Approach them about collaborating on addressing mutual concerns. Share ideas, resources, and connections. Decide on what actions you each will take individually and jointly. Schedule times to follow up with each other to provide support and accountability.

When deciding how to contribute to changing the situation you are addressing, focus your actions on what you have control and influence over. Small actions can have large results. Your initiative may ignite others to take action. As you identify interested people, recruit them into your group of collaborators.

Each of us is more powerful than we imagine. By exhibiting our own commitment to a cause, we give others the courage to come forward. By then uniting our energies and expertise, we have the start of a movement.

It would behoove us to keep in mind the words of John F. Kennedy: “There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” Stop talking, start acting. Lead now!

The Education of a Leader

It can be edifying to know how accomplished leaders learned to lead. To understand how George Washington became educated in leadership, I recommend reading John Ferling’s new book, The Ascent of George Washington. Ferling has authored an informative narrative of Washington’s education as a leader.

The focus of the book is on Washington’s political life. The author goes behind the myths to reveal Washington’s political flaws and genius. The portrait of Washington that emerges is of an adroit politician. Ferling gives a balanced perspective. Washington is revealed as having been enormously ambitious and driven to succeed. He was quick to claim credit for the accomplishments of others and skilled at laying blame on others for his own failures. He was expert at self-promotion. He was a poor tactician and strategist and commonly indecisive in a crisis. Yet Ferling believes Washington may have been the only person equipped to lead the American colonies to independence and to guide the fledgling nation. Washington’s character, judgment, courage, industriousness, persistence, and political skills set him apart from his contemporaries. Ferling’s book is an engaging study of how one does not need to be perfect to achieve greatness.

Tribes

I highly recommend Tribes by Seth Godin. Godin is one of my favorite authors because he gets me thinking in new ways. The essence of Godin's message in Tribes is that you have what it takes to lead, we need you to lead, so just do it. I have decided I will use Tribes as the text for the university leadership capstone course at I teach. Godin provides no formulas. He does stimulate thinking and inspires the reader to take action. My experience is that we learn to lead by leading. There are no set ways to lead. Each circumstance is different. What is key is the mindset we bring to the situation. Shaping the way we think is Godin's strength. Don't expect to find in this book step-by-step instructions on how to lead. Many authors, consultants, and teachers try to sell us such pat answers. There aren't any. Read Tribes and dare to accept Godin's challenge to lead.