Lead with Faith in Possibilities
Hey Leaders,
I wanted to reach out and remind you that though we are in incredibly dynamic and difficult times, we are still in times of extraordinary possibilities. At the turn of this decade, just 8 months ago, most of us would have gawked at the notion of a worldwide stillness resulting from a global Pandemic that to date have claimed the lives of over 190K globally and 175K State side. It just would not have been believable! In that same light, the impact of such an unthinkable reality has left many in unsettling positions...physically, mentally, physically, socially and economically. Life as we've known it will quite possibly never be the same.
And just as we begin to broach recovery efforts, the longstanding sting of systemic racism rears it's terrible head...yet again. The brutal and unjustified murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many others has sparked what many are calling a modern social uprising in the face of injustice. The hurt, the frustration, the pain, the uncomfortableness, the confusion, the exhaustion... is front and center.
It is in this moment that I want to challenge you as leaders to see the possibilities in your own greatness to incite change in the spaces you occupy. It is a difficult time but in the ashes of this turmoil is an opportunity for you...for us as a current or aspiring leader to both become better and rise up.I am not asking for perfection. I am not asking you to know everything but I am charging you to see the great possibilities in your positioning. Do not let this moment pass you by, do not let this moment be swept under the rug and do not let this moment be forgotten. Now is the time to lean in and focus on two very important areas in leadership:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and ACCOUNTABILITY
Courtesy of Google Images
Acknowledge
Acknowledge where you are as a leader and where you can make the most impact. Acknowledge the areas within your spaces that you can influence and be proactive in moving things forward. Assess the needs, acknowledge them and rise up as a leader. Once this is done, focus on the incredible task of of accountability.
Accountability
Lack of accountability is where we often drop the ball in the face of possibilities. The question is why? Why do we get caught up in the big moments and yet, when the dust settles the urgency evaporates. This is not what we need in this moment of recovery. We need leaders who are going to hold themselves, others and their organizations accountable in our efforts to address the problems we've identified. Wrap back around daily and hold fast to your leadership commitment.
I close with this! I understand how difficult it is to reconcile pain from both longstanding and unexpected challenges; but I also know how critically necessary it is to do so. In the wake of Senator John Lewis' death, I imagine the exhaustion that he must have felt on his iconic Civil Rights journey. For every moment that he helped advance the unified power of our nation, another incident would surface yielding what must have been a startling reminder that there is still much to be done. And yet he forged forward! The message is this, that even up until his death he acknowledge the pains and reminded deeply committed and accountable to the possibilities of a better tomorrow. This is the sign of an EXCEPTIONAL leader. Let us be inspired and never forget.
“The power of faith is transformative. It can be utilized in your own personal life to change your individual condition, and it can be used as a lifeline of spiritual strength to change a nation.”
― John Lewis,
LEARN ~ LIVE~LEAD
Dr. WY
Dr. Wykesha Hayes is a growing voice in the leadership and DEI space. Her extensive experiences in developing emerging, entrepreneurial and executive level leaders across various industries serves as the cornerstone to her approach. As founder and CEO of Keey Group, LLC, her leadership and diversity coaching and consulting programs equips leaders and organizations to perform exceptionally within the spaces they occupy.
