The Occupation
I will tell you how it was the world
changed, she said — and darkness
wrapped us round.
I heard her clearly, though I barely
heard the words. It was nearly — yes —
as if she were singing.
Our job, she was saying, is not
to change the world — nor even
to keep it from changing.
No, she was saying (the story
was over already): our only
job is being changed.
–Robert Bringhurst, From Selected Poems, Copper Canyon Press, 2012.
Here’s the thing about leadership:
We’ve got to do the work all the time, not just when it’s easy or convenient.
Because it’s easy to be a leader when things are going well and everyone thinks we’re awesome.
It’s easy when the path ahead is clear and we know how to navigate it.
It’s easy when we’re operating in our wheelhouse and our skills can shine.
And it’s really easy when everyone looks and sounds and behaves like us.
It’s NOT so easy when we don’t know how to handle something, or when we don’t have the answers, or when speaking up is likely to garner criticism.
And it’s not easy when the problems are deeply rooted, not easily solved and shape all facets of our lives.
But it’s still required.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve all learned about the horrific acts of racism in both the United States and Canada (only because they were filmed – many more happen every day). If you haven’t, a quick Twitter search will bring up terrifying and maddening videos of violence, murder and racism by white people, including police officers.
And given that two of my top values are fairness and equality, I cannot, in integrity, write you a leadership letter that avoids this subject for fear that you’ll think it’s not my place or you’ll tell me to stay in my lane or you’ll unsubscribe. Or that I might get it wrong.
Because I’ve got to do better. We ALL have to do better (speaking to my white friends here).
We must do our part. We can no longer just watch and hurt from a distance. Leadership requires action, not just words.
We can’t pretend these are ‘one-off’ occasions or that the people committing these acts are just bad apples. This is systemic and baked into the fabric of our lives and institutions – and it’s up to us to use our voices to demand and create lasting change in our organizations, our communities and in our homes.
This is scary work for many of us – we want to be helpful but we don’t want to get it wrong. We want to believe that being a good person is enough. And we’re worried speaking up will bring about criticism.
It feels daunting and like there’s nothing we can do as individuals to make it better. I get it. It’s what’s held me back many times.
But when I circle back to the leader I want to be, and the values I say I subscribe to, then the option is clear. And I need to practice to get better at it.
Because getting it right isn’t the point at all. Showing up, speaking up and doing the work is.
Practicing is the point.
Our job is being changed.
Steph x
p.s. On July 9th I’m hosting Book Club discussion for “How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi. More details to follow but I’d love you to join me. We can read and learn together.
🎧 FRESH ON THE PODCAST
Starting something new is always scary. In this week’s episode we discuss the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Web
💡 FRESH, HAND-PICKED RESOURCES
Curated links from around the web to help you work well, live well and lead well.
75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
I appreciate this comprehensive list of action steps we can take in support of racial justice. Because jumping onto social media to express outrage and sadness isn’t enough. It’s a start, but it’s not enough. We each, as individuals, have an opportunity to do our own work to both learn and to take action. This a comprehensive list. To my fellow Canadians: yes, it happens here too and yes, we can find our own equivalents of these action steps.
Read more and take action here.
Anti-Racism Resources for White People
A great list of articles, podcasts, books and people to follow to begin or continue your learning journey.
Read more and take action here.
Anti-racism resources for Canadians
My fellow Canadians, we have our work to do here too – specifically regarding our Indigenous communities. I highly recommend the book, “The Inconvenient Indian” by Thomas King as a starting place. You can also find additional resources through Canadian Heritage or here.
