The title is from Mahatma Gandhi, the rest is from Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee:
People who think they can be truly great leaders without personal transformation are fooling themselves. You cannot inspire others and create the resonant relationships that ignite greatness in your families, organizations, or communities without feeling inspired yourself, and working to bet the best person you can be. You must "be the change you wish to see."
The trouble is that personal transformation is not easy. Facing our own shortcomings is hard work indeed. Honesty with ourselves breed vulnerability. When we see who we really are and do not like it much, it hurts. Many of us shy away from this honesty, just to avoid the vulnerability and, yes, the pain that comes with seeing that we are not all that we might have thought, and in fact not all that we want. Self-discovery is really hard work. Maybe that is why so few people do it, and why so few people are really great human beings and great leaders.
This blog is inspiring. Imagine the possibilities of what one single person can "see" and then become. I wish my students could do this for themselves as their self worth would multiply greatly.
Posted by: Kelly | June 28, 2006 9:18 AM | Permalink to Comment