Insight from the Cal Graduation
I went to the graduation ceremony for the Environmental Design department of UC Berkeley this week. The top student in the Master's program gave a great speech, and one thing has stuck with me that I've been pondering ever since.
He spoke of not confusing authority with leadership. That decision-makers are not, by default, leaders. Politicians, bosses, your board of directors, may have control, and are often referred to as 'leaders' but leadership is something completely different.
Often times leadership means challenging authority. Our culture has been designed so that people are used to deferring to decision-makers for guidance. Looking at recent events lately, it seems many of us in this country want to be led, and aren't ready, able, or willing to lead. When we do this, we absolve ourselves of responsibility. We take the easy road, and we create a place, outside of ourselves, to direct blame when things go wrong. But true change, and greatness, is never borne from 'safe.' Change is messy, disruptive, and plagued with failure along the way. But it takes true leadership to accept that, and march through it.
posted by Mark @ 5:48 PM
