4/26/2020 Leadership based on service
I hope this finds you well and safe.
Thanks to my friend and wise woman Lyn, for helping me shape thoughts to share with you all this week. My own experience shapes my perspective: I continue to be healthy and employed, with a safe and pleasant home to shelter in, and deeply grateful for these conditions. Like many of us, my emotions ricochet from joy to fear to anxiety to calm and back again. Like many of us, my dreams are full of representations of anxiety and hope. These are stressful, unpredictable, challenging days.
Reflecting on a week of sad news about the pandemic and loss of life, good news in some venues about slowing the growth in infections, the gross injustices occurring in distribution of relief funds, stories of communities working to help, stories of protests and the terrible, obnoxious "sarcasm" of this president, the concept of "service" has taken on a new and urgent importance.
As we look to leaders on all levels - in our towns and counties, our state, our nation, our world - what we crave is the visible demonstration of commitment to service. Care for others, when it drives decisions, reassures. There is so much uncertainty, every leader and decision-maker will err. No one will call every shot perfectly.
Because of this, the ethic of care and service is even more important. It is even more visible when a leader demonstrates it; and even more noticeably missing when a leader flouts its opposite: decisions based on self-aggrandizement, self-centeredness, and/or consolidation of power. (These are not mutually exclusive, certainly. Most leaders have egos; many of the most ego-centric leaders believe, on some level, that they are acting on behalf of others.)
We watch, listen, observe, and we build our understanding of how deeply committed a leader is to service. We can tell, we know the difference, and we respond accordingly. Support the leaders you see who are serving, even though they are imperfect. Hold all leaders accountable to the ethic of care. Offer your own leadership as service to others.
Care for yourselves and one another. "Freedom" is a hollow exercise if we cannot act on behalf of our families, friends, loved ones, and communities.
Sent with love and gratitude -
Liz