Among all the noise and rhetoric, listen to this voice – she has something of true value to share!
Originally, in deciding to float the idea with The Change Leaders – a community of practice I am fortunate to be part of – for this blog as part of a series focused on “lesser heard and more diverse” range of voices, I was hoping that we could shine a light on voices that have something critical to say in these times but who may be drowned out by the noise. In a world where many of us feel the public spaces – physical and virtual – are being dominated by an increasingly narrow group of voices! – Listen
With this in mind, I decided to write about Margaret Wheatley (more frequently known as Meg) and her work encapsulated in her book Who Do We Choose to Be? And why Meg’s voice is critical at this point in time.
Her book starts with her desire to challenge us “To be leaders for this time as things fall apart, to reclaim leadership as a noble profession that creates possibility and humanity in the midst of increasing fear and turmoil…. to use whatever power and influence you have to create Islands of Sanity that evoke and rely on our best human qualities to create, produce and persevere? … Islands of Sanity where good work still gets done and where people enjoy healthy relationships amid chaotic conditions, fierce opposition, heart-breaking defeats, lack of support, isolation, loneliness, and slander.”
Meg goes on to explore in her work where we are and how we got here, using the patterns of complex civilisations to deepen historical awareness and then reflect on what she’s learnt from working with leaders who did not lose their way but persevered in doing the best that was possible in difficult circumstances.
The three key questions she uses in her exploration and urges us to consider are:
1) Facing Reality: Where are we and how did we get here?
2) Claiming Leadership: What is the role of leaders now?
3) Restoring Sanity: How do we create Islands of Sanity that sustain our best human qualities?
Concluding with the premise that qualities of compassion, discernment and presence are essential leadership skills in these days. They form the basis for Meg’s ongoing work training leaders in the skills of Warriors for the Human Spirit.
My own story has been interlinked with Meg’s work for a number of years. My first encounter with her was at an event organised by TCL (my community of practice) in Paris when she was evolving her thinking on these concepts and I was fascinated by it but not ready to integrate and act. Several years ago, I was really struggling professionally in my global role within a large organisation. I spent a week with Meg at Schumacher College in Devon exploring in detail the foundations of her work and it was transformational. I left knowing that the work I was going to do was going to change dramatically in the coming years and beyond.
In my own work, Islands of Sanity have increasingly gained in importance as the world becomes ever more challenging to navigate and thrive in. For me, my community of practice is the place where I regroup, connect, am challenged and supported, learn and refuel. It gives me the courage and sustenance I need to focus on the creativity, energy and perseverance required to do the work that I feel called to do through my coaching and change practice. When working with my clients, I encourage them to reflect and act upon this.
As for the qualities of compassion, discernment and presence in leadership – these are in increasingly short supply in leaders. Indeed, the old models of command and control, divide and conquer leadership, are fighting hard and winning in many ways. And yet, we see organisations and institutions whose leaders display true compassion (beyond empathy) and presence to the needs of others whilst facing reality faring far better in the current climate – delivering consistently more equitable and impactful outcomes. But it’s hard!
The need for leaders across societies, especially at the grassroots, embodying these traits grows exponentially – it’s mission-critical. We are called upon by Meg: “Now it’s up to us not as global leaders but as local leaders. We can lead people to create positive changes locally that make life easier and more sustainable, that create possibility in the midst of global decline. Let us use whatever power and influence we have, working with whatever resources are already available, mobilizing the people who are with us to work from what they are about… Facing reality is an empowering act – it can liberate our mind and heart to discern how best to use our power and influence in service for this time.”
I continue to work on my own way to serve my community. I see it as a continuous work in progress. So, potentially this is the true gift Meg’s work offers us – to accept the context we find ourselves in, to face it with fortitude and not despondence, to commit to and take action to serve whatever the difficulties and ultimately not to attach ourselves too much to our ego through the desire for “successful” outcomes – that the work we do is because it is needed and the value in that is enough.
This is why, I truly believe that Meg is a voice which needs to be heard in all the noise and rhetoric of current world so more of us can step up to serve in these difficult times of which I think it’s fair to say there will be many more to come.
To learn more about Meg’s work and activism, check out https://margaretwheatley.com. Ask yourself, how might you want to integrate these concepts and approach into your work and leadership?
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If you’re curious to know more about any of the above, I’d be delighted to talk to you so please do get in touch at rebecca@wise.sherpa.co.uk or via my contact page. Additionally, to learn what my clients say about me, please check out my LinkedIn profile and/or this website’s testimonials page.
A bit more about the author –
Rebecca Hill, founder at Wise Sherpa, is an experienced respected, trusted, sought after and award winning coach, consultant, facilitator and mentor.
Her passion is working with purpose led and impact focused leaders, professionals and organisations (including start ups and scale ups) in London and internationally in a thoughtful, collaborative and considered way guiding them to successfully realise their aspirations and achieve their goals. Rebecca’s approach is highly personalised and tailored to the needs of each client which is why clients report strong outcomes and she is considered one of the best leadership coaches and consultants.
Rebecca is also an author and speaker. She speaks on a range of issues including mid-life to later life transitions into fulfilling encores, navigating major life stages from a career perspective and women’s economic empowerment to name a few.
She holds an MSc in Coaching and Consulting from HEC Paris (in association with Said Business School, University of Oxford), as well as being a Chartered Marketer and qualified coach. She has lived and worked in several countries including France, US and Switzerland and speaks several languages. In her spare time, she also sits on a number of boards and committees.
