The Ultimate Choice of Inner Leadership
Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken.
– Oscar Wilde
They march in lock-step, signs lifted, voices raised, every facial expression etched with determination. The protestors have a shared purpose – a driving force carrying them towards a goal of equal justice for all. As one voice, they are demanding and propelling forward change to remove the injustices deeply embedded in our nation‘s psyche and societal structure. They have the courage to stand up for what they believe in, but first they had to be clear on exactly what it is they believe in.
Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes and Carnegie Hall Chairman Robert F. Smith in conversation during the Juneteenth Celebration
In last week’s Juneteenth Celebration conversation with Carnegie Hall Chairman Robert F. Smith, Dr. James Forbes asked: what actions can we take, after the protests and marches have stopped, to make change happen? Mr. Smith paused, reflected, and then said “Do what you are capable of doing and then stretch beyond that.” He went on—"If that means your capacity is taking care of someone’s child so they can work, or if you can influence business and world leaders to the inequities in a language they understand, then that’s what you do. Everyone has to work with the platforms made available to them and use those platforms to their fullest extent.”
Robert Smith was encouraging people to take action from where they are by determining their role in service to the greater good. Understanding our role(s) provides focus and direction, amplifying the ways we can connect with others and make a difference. In the protest crowds of thousands, each person had made such a commitment—to take right action and assert their role within a collective purpose to address racial inequities. We may never know the names of the people in the streets fighting for change, but we can appreciate each for taking a leadership stance to create something better for us all. We can all be leaders in any given circumstance if we are attuned to our abilities to make a difference—in other words, if we are connected to our purpose.
Inner and Outer Purpose
We have often said that each member of a jazz ensemble knows what their role is and therefore how they contribute to the performance. Recognizing deeply held values and talents builds confidence to activate inner purpose. Our values align with and guide our approach to life and relationships. Once you identify the ways you can contribute, as Robert Smith said, stretch even further to create value for those around you. Being purposeful is serving others. It is self-expression that focuses on improving the lives of everyone and everything you touch.
Conscious self-reflection brings the inner and outer purpose together. Outer purpose is what we do, how we act and react, the decisions we make, and the work we do.
You can’t create an outer life that’s more excellent than the quality of your inner life. Outer leadership begins with self-leadership.
— Robin Sharma
Embracing Your Self as Leader
As we align our inner and outer purpose, we develop trust in our leadership capacity and potential. In his book Leader Without a Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in Life, Robin Sharma says that we all have an “inner leader” helping us tap into enormous potential. It starts with us leading ourselves because of a profound choice to stop pretending to be a victim and to start presenting yourself as a leader. The ultimate choice is victimhood or leadership. You have the power to flip the switch. Sharma tells us that leadership is about absolute personal responsibility framed by the strength of our influence, our willingness to innovate, the quality of our attitude, and our commitment to excellence. Each of us has the responsibility to drive positive results and lead by example.
Sharma identifies four natural leadership powers as:
You don’t need a title, just commit to doing your absolute best every time
Turbulent times build great leaders because we do our best when we’re challenged the most.
The deeper your relationships, the stronger your leadership, so be truly present in supporting and seeing others
Become a great person by placing your vitality and energy into something bigger than yourself
By infusing leadership into everything you do and each thing you touch, you can live remarkably. You truly can realize your original genius. You can really be one of the great ones.
— Robin Sharma
Be the most helpful person you know. Self-leadership is about developing intention behind your actions, self-awareness based on your values, self-confidence in your strengths, abilities and self-belief, knowing that whatever comes, you can handle it.
