We are the United States of America. But at this point in time, we are far from united. We are a nation divided. How did we get here and how do we heal?
In 1933, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in his inaugural address, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” His words came during the throes of the Great Depression. He continued with “This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. There are many ways in which it can be helped, but it can never be helped merely by talking about it. We must act and act quickly.”
President Elect Joe Biden on Friday, November 6 said in his acceptance speech, “For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight,” Biden said. “I’ve lost a couple of times myself. But now, let’s give each other a chance.”
Even in the darkest times and facing the steepest challenges, Americans are known for our strength and resilience and it’s time to come together and bring positive change to this nation. We all must work collectively to overcome the challenges in front of us. Leaders need to bring unity to our entire country. We can’t work just for the people who agree with us, but instead must work for the greater good for all of us.
The recent election brought home the chilling reality that our country is not okay and we have a lot of work to do. So, let’s get to work.
It’s time to forge a path that acknowledges, addresses and overcomes the challenges we face. We can no longer brush them under the rug and act like our problems don’t exist. This year and this election have exacerbated our issues and it’s time we face them.
We need leaders from around the country, in every industry, from every walk of life, to come together with messages of unity not division. Leaders who will acknowledge and address the problems America is facing, not turn away from them.
People crave leadership. They want to be inspired.
The role of a leader is not to take everything on alone. Lead the charge in gathering your community, whether it is your business community or your social community and empower them to stand up, speak out and act.
Oftentimes, the best place to turn is those who are disenfranchised. How can you help others? What can you do to lead the charge in bettering your community and the communities crying out for help? Helping others can help you find your own focus and re-center your priorities.
Let’s take a look at some key components leaders need to embrace that are crucial in driving us down the road toward unity.
7 Key Ingredients to Leading Towards Unity:
Vision: Establish your vision for unity, share the vision with those in your organization and those outside your organization who can help bring that vision to fruition. Create a plan to implement your vision.
Integrity: Stand by your words. Follow those words with appropriate actions. Be accountable for your mistakes and the learning process you went through to get where you need to be in this unity process.
Focus: Be clear to your organization and your community that everyone will be accountable for unity. Moving forward together is not only the right path but the only path. Present your plan as an empowering opportunity for individuals to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
Engagement: In 2020, engagement has taken on a new form; especially in business. It’s important to connect with your organization and your community in new ways to effectively communicate expectations.
Empathy: Acknowledging our division is important. Understanding where people with varying viewpoints might be coming from is even more important. We can’t come together until we understand what and where other people are coming from. We all have a different story. Leaders need to try to understand varying viewpoints to know what is best for everyone not just what you think would be best.
Resilience: Life isn’t only about success. Sometimes we have to tumble before we can climb higher. As a leader, it’s okay and even encouraged to be open and honest with your organization and your community about the trials it has taken to be successful. Honesty about resilience enables those around you to be positive about their journey.
Flexibility: I’ve never met a leader who focuses on only one thing at a time. Leaders must be able to pivot, adapt and see the big picture. 2020 is the biggest example of leaders who have been successful by being flexible in circumstances out of their control.
By embracing these traits and using them to lead your community, your business, maybe even your family toward unification, we can change the direction this country is going. We can bring about greater achievements by inspiring unity than we can by encouraging division. The traits listed above are essential to this path.
You are stronger than you know and when we work together for the common good we are stronger than we ever thought possible.
TASC CEO Blog 