True Leadership

 

Walking the Path

“I try to remember that my communication is not as much what I say as it is what is heard.”

Bill Sommers (Review of The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer, and Visionary, by Angeles Arrien, Harper Collins, 1993)

          I go back to the work of Angeles Arrien when I want to explore leadership in a universal way. She was a cultural anthropologist who wrote and taught about the personal and psychic nature of leadership—what makes some people good leaders and others not. Her four tenets of leadership are drawn mostly from indigenous cultures. They are simple to say and difficult to live by, as is true for most profound things. I have written about them before, but just to refresh your memory and mine, here they are—The Four-Fold Way’s basic tenets:

1.    Show up or choose to be present. (Way of the Warrior)

2.    Pay attention to what has heart and meaning. (Way of the Healer)

3.    Tell the truth without blame or judgement. (Way of the Visionary)

4.    Be open to outcome, not attached to outcome. (Way of the Teacher)

If we were able to do these four things well, our lives would run a lot more smoothly. Notice there is no suggestion here about being the best, nor about beating the competition. Nothing about choosing the path that makes the most money, or that increases one’s own social status. True leadership is about bringing one’s personal presence and power to work for the good of all. When we are strictly out for ourselves, we are not leading. When we extend honor and respect to all beings, we are.

Considering the art of communication, as stated in the quote above, Arrien taught that there are two causes for misunderstanding: 1) not saying what we mean, and 2) not doing what we say. We see so much of that in our day to day lives—especially in the political sphere. We are promised much and given little. But we are all guilty of that, aren’t we? We say what someone wants to hear for whatever reason, and then we continue on, without action on our promise. Most of the time it’s not because we are intentionally lying or actively trying to mislead, but because we are busy and can not hold everything in our minds long enough to follow through.

The model of indigenous cultures is to share the wealth as well as the sorrow, to give away what you do not need, and to receive from others the things you do not have. There is an honest balance, less hierarchy, and more recognition that we all stand on common ground. A true leader is one who communicates honestly and authentically, and then detaches from the outcome. They let you know where they stand, but do not try to power over, or force their ideas on others. They act on their convictions rather than simply talking about them.

We can all be leaders. We can speak truth and stand for integrity. We can give back to the community that supports us. And we can walk our paths with open hearts and open hands, and with respect for all. Easy to say, hard to do—but let’s give it a try anyway.

                                             In the Spirit,

                                             Jane