The Power of Showing Up

Over the course of my career working with many leaders and entrepreneurs around the globe, I’ve learned there is power in simply showing up— it’s OK not to be there, but not OK to not show up.

The difference between the two is huge.

The COVID pandemic has made it is harder for people to show up.

It was a vital lesson for someone like me to learn that it is OK not to be there as long as I showed up in some form—finding a replacement to support the work or deal with what I have to do to keep the work going.

It’s easy to cancel or reschedule, but I encourage you to do that only as a last resort.

I have been fortunate. Most of my work throughout my life has come because I was there no matter what. I was there when I was homeless, when I was stateless, when there was a war, when there was COVID, whenever there was a crisis. And it didn’t mean that I was doing well. Sometimes I was sick, sent home by my colleagues because they feared I was contagious!

I bring this up because it is important to know you don’t have to physically be there to show up. Sometimes you are there, sometimes you send someone to fill in for you.

When the next crisis hits—whatever it is—think about what are you going to do to show up whether physically, mentally, or sending someone in your place, to deliver the promised work.

BEFORE YOU GO

We see our blogs as opportunities for dialogue. Please share your thoughts as comments.

1. What do you do to keep your business running no matter what?
2. What techniques have you adapted to ensure a backup plan when things go wrong?
3. What other techniques have you used to keep yourself or others showing up?

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Faris Alami is Founder and CEO of International Strategic Management, Inc. (ISM). He works internationally, presenting Exploring Entrepreneurship Workshops and other entrepreneurial ecosystem — related ventures.

#entrepreneurship #leadership #showingup #farisalami