Be the Change

Leaders are fond of change imagery. In politics, change is packaged as a clever, easy to remember slogan. Business leaders frequently tout change as a necessary element of today’s volatile and competitive marketplace. The faith community stakes its credibility on changes that occur as persons submit their lives to God and his will. Yet many leaders struggle to deliver the changes promised so enthusiastically just weeks or months earlier.

In my leadership consulting and training practice I have discovered that personal and organizational transformation isn’t rooted only in the promise of some future hope or dream. The ultimate destiny we seek begins with our willingness to live that future right now. Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi expressed this idea well when he said, “Be the change you want to see.” Gandhi’s vision of a non-violent world wasn’t some distant concept or theory. He lived his life in a non-violent way to give voice and meaning to his dream.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is another example of a leader who lived his dream of greater justice, equality, and respect for all. His willingness to “be the change” inspired millions to think and act differently but also ultimately cost him his life. When leaders commit themselves to authentically enacting the deeply held principles they cherish it is understandably difficult, and perhaps even dangerous.

Organizations that initiate change agendas would do well to consider how their culture and leadership styles either serve or impede the vision they aspire to achieve. How employees are treated, how customers are served, how decisions are made, how processes are implemented all contribute to the ultimate future the organization hopes to reach. If leaders aren’t willing to model the new reality they seek, then all who are called to follow will naturally be skeptical and suspicious.

When I am facilitating a client event my behavior must model the outcomes I hope to attain. While teaching or coaching my words and actions must be congruent with the concepts I am introducing or the advice I am offering. As a leader who espouses the virtues of being inspirational, I must be inspiring!

What might happen if leaders took seriously the challenge of Gandhi’s simple, yet challenging idea? Might empty pledges to fix pressing problems be replaced with practical, common sense solutions? Could slick ad campaigns give way to promises kept? Shouldn’t leaders be known for their integrity rather than their perceived intelligence? Transformation doesn’t begin with some grand plan or budget, it starts in our hearts and minds. Leaders would do well to simply “be the change they want us to see.” Now, who is willing to start?