Create a Movement!

Do you want to multiply your impact as a leader? Create a movement!

Nearly a year ago, I scribbled down some quick notes when I was inspired while listening to Gustavo Crocker talk about the power of a movement.

Some of the most effective leaders in history have multiplied their work by sharing, inspiring and bringing others along in what they do.

It got me thinking about how one goes about creating a movement. Here are what I see to be the critical steps:

One. Create a big vision:

You have to be bold. Remember President Kennedy's moonshot speech? Think about what your moonshot moment is in the work that you lead.

Two. Excite and ignite.

Sometimes we focus on just the data or results of our work. And while data is necessary and important, it doesn't inspire. Our brains aren't wired for data.

Hearing that 100,000 people have been served just ends up being a big number with no context. Like, can you easily picture 100,000 people? I doubt it.

Instead, you can connect on an emotional level by sharing stories of the individuals that you serve.

A well-shared story about a single person's journey is relatable and inspirational. These stories can excite and ignite your team and others that support your organization's mission.

Three. Let people experience the feeling of belonging.

Oftentimes, we ask people to belong before they even believe in what we're doing. That's a pretty backwards way of going about the process because the reality is that people will only experience true belonging through a process that starts with believing. Once they believe, they'll start to behave in ways that fit the perceived norms of the group that they've fully bought into.

Movements happen when everyone who joins them has a true sense of belonging, and a profound sense of the mission at hand.

We move because we belong.

Gustavo Crocker taught me these important lessons in just 20 minutes, in a small church, in a small town, far from my home.

Yet, these simple yet profound lessons have taken up prime real estate in my brain, as everything I do today is filtered through the lens of creating a movement to multiply our work and impact.

Like so many leadership gems, you find them where you least expect them. They are all around you. You just have to pay attention and keep your radar on high.

What leadership lessons have you learned in the most unexpected of places?

I'd love to hear, so please share!

Soar, don't settle!