LBC Wise Counsel

You are not the last to leave the building, please leave the lights on

August 7, 2024

Light as a metaphor is a familiar device; “she lit up the room with her beauty”; “her erudite explanation enabled her students to see more clearly”; “she was a beacon of virtue” etc.

The darker our circumstances feel, personally or collectively, the more we crave the light of understanding and trust. The sense therefore that we might equate light and leadership is not new, but familiarity is not the same as understanding. In this short article I want to explore how I have come to reflect personally on three ideas of leadership and light.

One of our leadership challenges is that we (and by “we” I include all politicians, business leaders, teachers, parents) have over-used certain words and then hoped the right behaviours would follow. We have sub-consciously substituted noise for light. What is needed is to clearly show the behaviours we want to see and consciously say fewer words to encourage them. If Leadership was more visible and less noisy, we might be on a different path.

I think this starts with knowing that we all have a capacity for leadership. A capacity that is real, important and empowering. Leadership is influence and we all influence all of the time. A scowl influences as much as a smile. Arriving late influences as much as being in position ready to work. Asking how someone is doing influences as much as criticising the insensitivity of others. We all have the power to influence and therefore we all lead.

Leadership therefore is about the choices we make. Do we walk past a colleague without acknowledging they are there? Do we try to engage with the immediate small space around us or do we always plug-in to an unreal, virtual universe? Do we listen brilliantly and build on the contributions of others or do we typically drown out our colleagues with our own broadcast news.

My metaphor is light and my theme is leadership, and these are my three thoughts to share.

First, there is the light we bring to illuminate our ideas and behaviours.

If there was literally a spotlight on us, what would people see? Do we make good choices to contribute well? Have we prepared positively and generously? Do we listen, offer, share, help, build and care? Our light is always on. We cannot hide in dark corners, because try as we might sometimes, our light will show that this is where we have placed ourselves for now. Being our best, all the time is too hard, but we must try to honour our potential, the gifts we have and the opportunities we see. Then, when we feel vulnerable (and we will all feel vulnerable sometimes) my hope is that this is when others shine more brightly for us.

Second, therefore, there is the light we share to allow others to shine more brightly.

Leadership is not a self-regarding act; it should not be about ego, but about facilitating a collective contribution. Can you shine, therefore, so that others may thrive? Can we coach, mentor, facilitate, share, encourage, console, cheer-on, promote, defend and build with others so that their light may shine? There is a particular joy in making it our leadership purpose to bring out the best in others, no matter our status, rank or formally delegated power. In this way we shine not to create shadows, but so that others may see more clearly.

Third, there is the light we leave behind.

For me this is the most precious light of all. This is the light that comes not from a personal act in the present, but from the enduring legacy of our values. When we are gone, this is the light that empowers those who stay to shine, and which means they will influence those who are still to come to shine too. All of this because, when it is our time to leave the stage, we know the theatre will be enhanced with the brilliance of everyone who is there, and not diminished because we have gone.

Leadership is a precious gift, given to every one of us, every single day; let it shine.

Take care.

Paul

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