We have become used to judging appearance rather than substance, yet as the world continues to change, our need for grounding in reality becomes greater and our frustration with imitations more profound. To effectively speak as a leader in this new interdependent world will require a reversal of this trend, a defying of convention that has snared us in fantasy. Leading is about inspiring others to make change, and organizational leaders who foster joint commitment to meaningful endeavor will excel. Those who still depend on engendering passive compliance will falter. It is the energy of collective conviction that will fuel answers to the complex questions of global competition, national social malaise or international cooperation.
People make commitments to causes they value and to people they respect and trust.
Rediscovering an authentic voice and maintaining a commitment to meaningful change are requisites for any leader who would respond to these needs. Such authenticity requires speaking from both the mind and the heart, directly to the minds and hearts of the audience. When listeners sense both competence and connection, they are willing to engage, consider their own commitment, and eventually act. Ideas can be learned from others, but passion lives in our own experience. The first step of effective advocacy is to rediscover what is personally meaningful by reflecting on the actual shaping events of our lives.