A Post a Day in May #25: Leadership by the Letter

-
I have pledged to write a new post for this blog every day in May. 
The concept of leadership is much on my mind, as there is such a dearth of it in our world today. Yes, individuals are in positions of leadership, but that does not make those individuals leaders. For it is their actions, not their position, that make them so. 

L E A D E R S H I P: Springboard. Help.  Inclusion. Party.

For my final entry in Leadership by the Letter, I am tying the last four letters together. Partly because I’m running out of days in May, but mostly because I like that, together, they spell SHIP. 

Whether large or small, a ship is a vessel that runs best when the systems that keep it going are operated by a crew (of greater or lesser size), working together to contribute their individual parts towards the forward motion of the greater whole. 

 And every crew has a captain, a leader. 

Geraldine Ferraro: 1984 // Greta Thunberg: 2020
S is for SPRINGBOARD, which is defined as “a starting point for something”. Leadership is exactly that — a starting point; it is not an end unto itself. Its potential must be used to nurture momentum, keep connections lively, and actions meaningful. Leadership means movement. 

H is for HELP: Leaders provide support, offer a hand, remove barriers — of every kind, at every level. Leaders keep a 360-degree view of their context to ensure that those beside, below and above them in the “ship” get the help they need to succeed in their work. 

I is for INCLUSION: There is no “I” in team, goes the cliche, and, while there is an “i” in leadership, it stands for collaborating up, down and to the side with everyone who has something to contribute in order for the greater good and the larger whole to succeed. 

P is for PARTY: Good leadership enables good work, and good work deserves to be celebrated. When a goal is reached, a plan achieved, a project completed — that’s the time for celebration. Have a party. Let loose: Reward comes in many forms, among them praise, laughter and fun.

Leadership is no joke. To be (actually or figuratively) the head of the crew is serious business. Only those with the resolve to be courageous and the willingness to admit being wrong (occasionally, one hopes) should dare to risk the rewards of leadership. 

------------

Writers want to be read, so comments, rebuttals and feedback are all welcome. Subscribe to the blog to receive the posts direct into your email inbox. Use Google Chrome or FireFox as your browser, if you have problems via Safari. I cannot post comments via Safari, but can via Google Chrome. 

Comments

  1. danielle-momoMay 25, 2020 at 9:19 AM

    Beautifully said, I agree.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amanda Le RougetelMay 25, 2020 at 10:31 AM

    From Val Paape:

    "While every letter of “ship” has an excellent contribution to make to the concept of good leadership, I particularly like what you have to say about the S and the P. Indeed, one might also say, the salt and pepper, the “S ’n P”! Salt elevates the taste, makes the food “lively” and the act of eating (working together to achieve a shared objective) pleasurable. The “Pepper” is the excitement, the “productive heat” of engagement; the spice of meaningful, coordinated work—the Party! Only real leaders shake the “S ’n P” out of their teams!

    "Great post! Thanks for the opportunity to “riff” off your theme."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Susan HealdMay 26, 2020 at 12:07 PM

    You're really sailing your ship here, Amanda. And the last sentence is stunning!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated. Please be respectful.

Popular posts from this blog

Looking elsewhere for success: It’s not always found in first place

-
Image
I do not own a magazine. I am not an editor to whom writers submit their work, hoping I will publish it. I am the writer who submits her work hoping it will make the cut with the editor to whom I have submitted it; recently, I have done this without success. But, hang on, what is success for a writer? What is success for any of us? Last week, my writer friend Finnian Burnett made it onto the long list for the 2023 CBC Nonfiction prize . A friend’s success is happily celebrated, so a big HOORAY for Finn ! Reflecting on the meaning of this accomplishment, Finn spoke of feeling proud for having written a piece and thinking it was good enough to submit and then actually submitting it. That is an achievement of which to be justifiably proud, said Finn, because so many writers don’t ever make it to the end of the finish + polish + submit stage. They give up somewhere along the line or disappear down a tangent or never even get started. Finn’s perspective gave me pause and has me reconsideri
Read more

Life story: I am from...where? who? what?

-
Image
The Le Rougetel family circa 1965: Anne, Charles, Amanda, Katy, Colin I recently attended the celebration of life for a friend’s father who had died at 95. The service was bright with song and lively with memories, and it got me thinking about how we wrap up a life with stories. Stories of fun and adventure, success and achievement, of impact and wisdom. Or maybe stories of hardship and pain, of loss and lack, of hard luck and sorrow. Or, likely, a mix of all that. Regardless, at the end, we celebrate a life in story. It got me thinking about how my story might be told when my end comes. That’s a long way off, I hope, but in the meantime, I pulled out an activity that Deborah and I have used in one of our writing workshops . It’s a variation on the “I am from…” prompt developed by George Ella Lyon , and it’s surprisingly thought provoking. It asks you to dig ever deeper about where you are from — while the cheap answer is Toronto (city where I was born), the richer, more valuable answe
Read more

Anne Le Rougetel: my splendid mother

-
Image
April 2024: Anne and Amanda -- mother & daughter with but one nose between us (as it were) Formal notice Anne Le Rougetel died peacefully at home on Friday, April 26, 2024, with her daughters at her side. Born in 1928, Anne was a remarkable woman; a talented writer; an eclectic reader; well versed in world affairs; loving beyond measure to her children; kind and generous to friends; compassionate to those in need. She enjoyed reading a good book and engaging in interesting conversation. Due to failed vision and failing hearing, both these pursuits disappeared from her life in the final year or so. Please remember Anne by taking a friend to coffee and enjoying a delicious pastry. Anne was predeceased by her husband Colin. She is survived by her three children and their families: Katy (Guy). Amanda (Val). Charles (Lisa, Max and Sam). Special mention must be made of Barbara Chan, who was a generous friend and caring companion to Anne, and of Edna Abel, who was a loving friend and inte
Read more