The Leadership Challenge

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we all take a must deserved break this three day weekend we are given the opportunity to celebrate a man that truly made a difference. Born into a much different America, Dr. King rose to the challenge and fought for the freedom of his people. Though he inspired a leadership theory known as the Charismatic Leadership Theory, I think his story serves as a shining example of another: the Leadership Challenge, a theory that truly resonates with me. The Leadership Challenge serves as a call to action theory, one that places the power in each of us regardless of where we come from. The five practices stressed in the Leadership Challenge are: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. This challenge is modeled for and after the everyday person, reminding us that ordinary individuals can achieve extraordinary things. The first step, "model the way" speaks to the notion that our actions speak louder than our words. The second, "inspire a shared vision" relates to the ability of leaders to connect with people and inspire change. "Challenge the process" encourages us to actively challenge the status quo as true leaders do, we must have the courage to speak up in the face of difficult times and back firmly the truths and beliefs we hold important. The fourth step "enable others to act" displays the idea that we as leaders are expected to pass the torch, to actively involve others, and instill them with confidence and motivation. Lastly, "encourage the heart" is a reminder to keep hope alive in the hearts of those that believe in us and our cause. And so tomorrow we commemorate a man who made a real difference and inspired the world to discover the leader within each of us.