Introduction
I wrote a simple handbook to explain this belief and lay the foundation for living from and
leading from this force. This is no "woo woo" book. It’s practical information for
individual contributors and corporate leaders.
Make no mistake about it; anything that is accomplished
personally and professionally, individually and with a group requires a force
of some kind. Some call it energy, motivation or passion. It is my firm belief that seeing and understanding this is
essential to getting more of the outcomes we want in all area of our lives.
It’s also necessary if companies want to be and stay competitive. In my view force equals profits and the source of profits begins with the force
of each individual employee.
So many leaders have limited knowledge if any of how to
access or leverage this force. In fact I’ve witnessed many who squander, sabotage,
and suppress this force, contributing to the very problems they wish they
did not have.
Yep this force has a lot of power – the power to make or
break a company, to make or break a life, a family, a community.
The best news ever is the force is with you – more
specifically the force is within you - what will you do with it? What have you done with it?
The
Force Within
I remember during my childhood becoming aware of a powerful
force within me - let’s call it energy. This energy would surge up in me in
undeniable ways in which it was hard to control - it would drive me, compel me
to say or do something!
As I matured and became involved in personal development I
came to see that force as my authentic personal power. That surge of energy I
came to see as my spirit, my voice demanding to burst out onto the stage of
life and from an early age that's exactly what it did!
That inner force continued to compel me to initiate first,
act when others wouldn't or hesitated...and there I was - out in front.
That resulted in not only being compelled to lead from the
inside-out but being appointed or asked to lead. I learned that once you're out
there, folks just keep asking you to stay there.
I remember I was teaching swimming (had my own classes) at
the age of 14, writing very opinionated letters to the congregation as one of
the youngest ministry leaders in my church at the age of 15. It was clear early
- leading wasn't what I did, it was who I was.
I soon learned through college and into my early working
years that leading, that is the willingness to initiate and put myself out
there would serve me well and I must say was a lot of fun! It was easier to
build relationships, get cool assignments, and stay employed. Certainly, there
were periodic employment gaps, but luckily not for very long.
When I finally launched my own company in 1998, acquiring
clients like many companies was a challenge, but in retrospect not nearly as
hard as it would have been had I not been an "out in front” kind of person
during my career.
All along, every step of the way - that force - that surge
of energy was ever present, unwilling to be denied. The force continually pushed me to be out in
front. My force was voiced through the behavior of leadership.
Oh yes there were times I tried to suppress it. Sometimes it
was just darn annoying. I wanted it to be quiet - to allow me some rest.
But it wouldn't!
There were also times it didn't match what was going on
around me. When expressed I appeared odd or going against the grain and even invited
ridicule causing much heartache. And yet, it was ever relenting. I could
only hold it in, modify it's authenticity, ignore it for logical reasons for
only so long. It would have none of it!
To this day it keeps asking to be acknowledged and expressed.
The result of which has been service in ministry, coaching, speaking, writing
and other roles.
What I've finally learned and come to peace with is to let
my inner force be the leader. I am surrendered to let that inner force and
voice lead me so that I can lead others; to let it speak as loud and unique as
it needs to for my full purpose to be holistically and completely expressed.
Ever heard of the quote, "Don't die with your music
still inside you"? It's like that -
don't continue to exist with your voice not heard. It was given to you for a
reason!
I remember seeing the singer Pink interviewed. Here's a
quote I'll never forget. She said, "I don't let anyone speak for me,
I have too much to say."
Imagine for a moment if our many heroes and heroines,
inventors and thought leaders allowed their force and voice to be modified or
suppressed...where would we and our society as a whole be? Consider: Gandhi, Rosa
Parks, Gloria Steinem, Joan of Arc, Madam Currie, Thomas Edison, Harriett
Tubman, Elizabeth Stanton, Shirley Chisholm, Steve Jobs, Abraham Lincoln,
Nelson Mandela, my mom Marquerite Robinson, just to name a few.
Though this list includes both men and women, how are women
fairing in the expression of their unique voices? Well, according to her latest
best seller, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg expressed from her perspective, women
are still tempering, modifying, undermining and even discounting their voices.
This suggests that in every era there has and will be
(particularly for women) a fight to express their authentic voice. Maybe that
reflects a DNA conditioning of sorts as women and/or a continued socialization
of voice modification or suppression.
I wonder for women is it harder or easier now than our mothers
and sisters before us? I don't know - perhaps just different. No matter - our
success and happiness is dependent on our collective social growth in this
area. Honoring all voices is a
continuing 21st century human imperative worldwide.
Ultimately it begins with the Individual – for each
individual to know, acknowledge, respect
and allow the inner force to become the outer voice and to not expect it to
be like anyone else’s; to protect it rather than compare it to others or temper
it to be acceptable to fit in, instead to champion it and allow it's full
authenticity to be present and fully expressed, so that it can continually
reverberate throughout the precious, short time you’ll be here on earth.
“There is vitality, a life force, an energy, a
quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is
only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.”
-Martha Graham
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