What Does it Mean to Lead?

How can we give ourselves permission to step into this role in our own way?

Leadership is…

- Not to be right but to act
- Not to command but to show the path
- Not to head the winning team but to show how to play the infinite game

After spending a career following someone else’s lead you now want to find your own way.

Something has bubbled up from inside, calling you to make a change.

But you hesitate.

You tell yourself “you’re not a leader.”

The stories of leadership you’ve learned don’t resonate with the kind of person you are.

- You’re not attention seeking
- You don’t want to tell people what to do
- You don’t want to stick your head above the parapet

But maybe you can lead quietly.

Maybe you can lead differently.

Maybe you can lead in the company of others.

Maybe you can lead by doing, not by telling.

Maybe you can lead with ideas that show the way and inspire others to act.

Maybe you can lead to learn more about yourself.

If you’re wanting to have agency in your life you’re going to need to lead.

But you don’t need to do it on your own.

“May you have good friends to mirror your blind spots.
May leadership be for you a true adventure of growth.”

John Donahue