Where Your Leadership Path Begins

There is a growing awareness for the need for change. This does not assume that change will take place. Nonetheless, the need for change is here. This awareness is social consciousness. The term social consciousness is not new, but it has taken on new power and authority. Whether the conversation is politics, the economy, or the global ecosystem, people across the global are anxious for the future. If we don’t make change now, when will we make it? Although I would like to think this question is only rhetorical, I would be wrong. It’s a real question. It is a question we must consider.

To make socially conscious changes to our world, we need leaders prepared to do so.

I just finished my book. In it, I discuss the path of learning to lead – sort of like a leadership training 101. But this is not your typical leadership development book. I do not discuss academics. I do not discuss theory. I do not create a recipe for leadership success. How could I? Leadership success is not a formula. Although academics, theory, and recipes all work together in many leadership training programs, they don’t guarantee success. Why?

They don’t address the person seeking to lead.

So, let’s do that. Let’s talk about the leader from the personal perspective – the human perspective. What does a person need to do to learn to lead? And even more importantly, how can we prepare the leaders of change – the people that will lead change for a better tomorrow – today? How can we develop socially conscious leaders???

What is social consciousness?

At its core, social consciousness is two things: awareness of self and awareness of others. If we dig a little deeper, it’s the drive to make positive impacts on others through intentional decision-making and action-oriented results. But what does all of this really mean? Think of it this way. I have taught in higher education for quite some time. All the same, I have talked with high school seniors and college freshmen. When asked, “What type of work do you want to do?”, they may respond with, “I’m not really sure. But I know I want to help people.”

Little do they know that ‘helping’ looks different to different people.

However, when we dig a little deeper into what it means to ‘help people’, then we can get to the core of social consciousness. It’s recognizing that people from all walks of life encounter limitations based on socio-economic status, race, creed, and other social strata. And although they should not, these differences may negatively impact how people live, move, and exist. The socially conscious individual recognizes the injustice and wants to make a difference.

But the leader does not stop at just “wanting” to make a change – s/he finds a way to make it happen. Let’s make it happen.

Why should I consider social consciousness as part of my learning to lead journey?

Not everyone wants to make an impact. Some people just want the skills necessary to lead an organization to gain more profits or lead a team to complete a project. All of that is well and good. But the world is a big place; and the world needs leaders who are willing to step up and make significant changes to it. People who recognize the need for a change in the way we treat other human beings also recognize the need for social consciousness in leadership. These are the people who are willing to take risks, build collaborative efforts with others, and stand on their ethics and morals to make life-long impacts on the people of the earth.

Now this may sound like an outlandish statement – but the world needs such people. The world needs us to make that change.?

Learning to Lead

You were born to lead. Were you? If so, that’s an interesting idea. Something that deserves a conversation. What characteristics were you “born” with that tells you and the rest of the world that you are a leader?

This raises the question.?

Are leaders born or raised? This is a thought-provoking question and open to discussion. Today, I write under the idea that leaders are raised. People learn to lead. Leading others is a human discipline that can be both taught and learned. With practice, guidance, reflection, and study, anyone can become a leader. And over time, that leader can make a great impact upon the world.

Are you learning to be a leader?

A plethora of books, programs, and mastermind classes exist to promote the idea and discipline of leadership. Leadership is taught at the high school, university, and doctoral levels. Every branch of military service has leadership curriculum designed to teach the values, principles, and behaviors of leaders. It’s a hot topic for LinkedIn communities, posts, and subgroups. We can’t get away from the discussion. It fascinates and intrigues us. And many people assume that by title earned, they have become a leader.

Is that hype?

Or is that reality?

True leadership is more than a title. It is also more than theory or study.?Academia is full of leadership theory. Are you familiar with any of these?

Behavioral Theory of Leadership

The Servant Leader

The Transformational Leader

Leading by Walking Around

And I will add a new one – the Impact Phenomenon

With all of these theories, I wonder if people get confused as to how to learn to lead. Should someone simply study a specific theory, adopt its principles, and behave accordingly? Or is there more to it?

I think there is more to it. Leading is more than theory. Leading is personal. To lead people, you must interact with them, empower them, encourage them, and at times, challenge them. Theory can teach you the principles of value, action, and behavior. However, until you actually do something – lead – you have not done it. And doing something you have never done before can be a daunting challenge in itself. Take the learning process in stride. Know that habits will develop over time. And knowledge builds upon itself.

?I think we can learn to lead. To do this, we must choose a leadership path and follow it. We must find support along the way. We must adopt to changes and learn to overcome challenges. Additionally, we must look at people differently. We must become conscious, and conscientious, about how decisions are made, who they impact, and how that impact will be felt over time.

It’s time to lead, differently.

Thanks for reading.

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