The president of our national organization said in a keynote speech, “Great leaders are not afraid to stand for justice, even if their peers do not agree with them.”
Leaders are faced with situations where their gut may tell them that the organization they are running is doing something wrong. This is no place for passivity; it is the role of the leader to trust that gnawing feeling and make a change. We serve as leaders within and outside of the Greek community. At all times, we represent our letters and the values of our organizations. As leaders, we are tasked with channeling our leadership. One of my favorite definitions of leadership comes from David Casullo of Bates Communications. Casullo defines leadership as,
“The collective action of everyone you influence. Your behavior — your actions and your words — determines how you influence. Our job as leaders is to energize whatever marshals action within others.”
This definition is essential; it is recognition that the power comes from within our organizations. Different people have different reasons to act, and various topics they choose to act on. Too often leaders see themselves as the power. A leader is nothing without those he or she serves. An effective leader does not control or dictate, but takes all of the energy coming from within and directs it to affect change. When that little alarm is going off in the back of your head because you know something is wrong, and those around you don’t see it as such, you must stand up to it in a way that brings your peers with you. Go against the current by finding a way to turn the current around with you.
As leaders, we must address conflict. There are many conflict management styles, and not all work for every individual or every situation. It is our responsibility to distinguish between these and know which is best.
It is our job to motivate. We should promote changes in behavior and appreciate positive efforts. For the betterment of the organization, we praise publicly and discipline privately.
We must strategize to create change. This begins with identifying the change and the extent of the need. We, then, develop a game plan and remember to identify small victories along the way.
Our organizations are nothing without inspiration. Start with the “why” and ask questions. We always get caught up in going through the motions, but rarely do we stop to remember the reason for what we do. Inspiration makes others want to do something on their own, and it gives them ideas of what that "something" is.
Every individual is a leader in some capacity of his or her life. As Greeks, we have more opportunities than most to discover our potential. Allow others to develop their skills, and allow your organization to achieve greatness by empowering those who may not yet believe in themselves. My non-expert advice? Do not just believe in each and every member -- tell them that they are a force to be reckoned with. Tell them that you believe in them.
