We often think of leadership as a solitary task.
Buying into Thomas Carlyle’s “great man” theory of history, we speak of
leadership in solitary and personal terms. And certainly, history is filled
with examples of men and women like Trocmé, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, and
Mother Theresa who took bold individual action. But most real change — even the
change driven by those aforementioned leaders — is community-driven and
community-focused. Some of the greatest accomplishments in business, politics,
and culture have come not from individual initiative alone but from those
working in, with, and for community.
First, great leadership often starts in
community. When facing great odds or forced to deal with unusual or
trying circumstances, few of us are fortified enough to act alone, without
counsel or support. This is a point often hammered home by Harvard Business
School professor and former Medtronic CEO Bill George, who is a vocal advocate
for what he calls “True North Groups.” These are gatherings of peers and
mentors with whom we can share. They can counsel us as we face difficult
problems and hold us accountable for acting in accordance with our values.
Others have advocated similar constructs, such as a personal board of directors.
And I’ve noted before the measurable benefits of mentorship. In short, no man
is an island, and we are better leaders when we are rooted in a community
empowered to counsel us, challenge us, and hold us accountable.
Similarly, great leaders often realize they must
act not in isolation but with community. André Trocmé could never
have shielded Jewish people in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon on his own; it took the
collective efforts of the entire town. Few great changes happen until and unless
a critical mass of community members collectively decides to own and execute
the solution. William Wilberforce is often credited with leading the
antislavery movement in the United Kingdom, for example, but would have
accomplished far less without the broad-based support of Britain’s Clapham Sect
and a number of antislavery organizations. Steve Jobs was a visionary when he
started Apple, but his effectiveness suffered early in his career when he
failed to mobilize his Board of Directors behind his vision. And any former management
consultant can tell you that the easiest way to fail in a project is to come up
with the “right” solution in isolation, without first worrying about getting
the input of and ownership by the broader client organization. Ships have
captains, but they are only turned when the entire crew works as a community to
shift the ship’s direction. One of the easiest ways for a leader to fail is to
forget that her power is limited in isolation and nearly endless if amplified
throughout the collective intelligence and resources of the community.
Finally, the most inspiring leadership is that
done for community. There are certainly moments when we do things
purely for ourselves, and that’s not all bad. A distance runner racing to win a
marathon is no less admirable if she is racing only to test her own boundaries
and achieve an individual victory. But few will follow a leader who is focused
solely on his own goals, and many of the most inspiring leadership victories
are those done in service of a community.
This is obviously true in the world of nonprofits
and human rights. Our greatest heroes are those who sacrificed themselves for
the good of their communities — people like Clara Barton, Martin Luther King,
Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Harriet Tubman. But it’s also true in business.
Marketer Simon Sinek has noted that, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy
why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” Many of the
most motivated employee and customer bases are so motivated because they see an
element of community service in the work their companies do. Whole Foods, for
example, professes a motto of “Whole Foods, Whole Planet, Whole People,”
framing their mission in terms of environmental purity and human wellness. They
have engaged the employee base with a dedication to Whole Foods customers, to
team members, and to outside charities. TOMS is famously founded on the premise
of sharing its success (and the prosperity of its customers) with those in
need. Zappos has built its reputation on providing excellent service for their
customer community. People don’t like to follow leaders who are dedicated only
to their own personal glory, but they will sacrifice everything for leaders and
communities who give them a higher calling, a greater purpose. And whether in
politics or business, leadership for community is almost always the most
powerful.
These are old principles, but they are worth
remembering. Lofty achievements like those of the little village of Le
Chambon-sur-Lignon are only achieved in community, with community, and for
community. And the more we keep those principles front of mind, the greater
chance we have to lead lives that do our communities a service.
by
John Coleman
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