Our Greatest Hope
Our Greatest Hope ©Irene Becker, www.justcoachit.com
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A dear friend, asked me to write about values driven leadership. The more I thought about this topic, the more I realized that we do not simply need values driven business leaders, we need to become individual leaders, personal leaders, ombudsmen of the good by embracing the values that we cherish. Our greatest hope lies in the values, faith, courage, hope and integrity that are the apex of our greatest power and potential.
Where do we start? We start right here, right now. Impossible? Think again. We stand on a glass cliff, a place where we will see the greatest renaissance we have ever known; or a decline and decent into the abyss of chaos, aggression and destruction. A place where we will be crippled by the need, greed and ego that has destroyed every empire and fiefdom in history OR choose to embrace our potential to use what is to create what can be.
It is your ability, my ability, our ability to cleave to the universal values, express the humanity and moral courage that is our hope for the future. Courage that starts with service above self, with the desire to move from me to WE. Power that grows each time we show kindness to a stranger, reach out and help a colleague of friend, mentor or share knowledge. Leadership that grows when we focus not on what we can get, but rather on what we can contribute. Humanity that is expressed in learning to treat our neighbors, our brothers and sisters as ourselves. Happiness that is found in caring, sharing and contributing.
In a world of increasing complexity it is the simple things that often elude us. It is time to get simple and clear with the importance of tying a knot around our values, courage, integrity; for they are the greatest riches we have. Love is the truth, universal values are the motor, and human passion, purpose and potential are the engine that can drive us to an evolution of self, and of others that will take us into the age of innovation – an age of extraordinary possibilities; or push us into an abyss of fear, despair, destruction, aggression and chaos.
Our greatest hope lies in a new balance of independence and interdependence that will take us forward. A path that is difficult, but worthwhile. A path that requires courage and conviction. A path that is oft forgotten, and begs to be remembered. A path of redemption and renewal. A path of human beings being better not simply doing faster than ever before. A path that can change one life, many lives and ultimately our world. A path where we serve to LEAD from me to WE.
Written for my late father, Joseph Becker, my best friend, mentor and a soul whose light shines on.
More Me to We Leadership on QBlog:
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Irene Becker April 6, 2012 | www.justcoachit.com | The EQ Edge™- Smarter, Happier, Faster