When leading feels lonely…
When I was in college, I hated group projects.
I was that girl who volunteered (ahem, insisted) “I’ll just do it on my own,” because I’d rather put in a few extra hours at the library than waste my time with collaboration.
And while this approach earned me straight A’s in school (because as a surprise to nobody, I was also a perfectionist), when I became a nonprofit leader all it earned me was burnout, blindspots, and self-generated strategies that nobody bought into.
Ouch.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve been on a journey of unlearning hyper-individualism and cultivating my capacity to lead change in deep partnership with others.
Because when we choose partnership over going it alone, we create outcomes that are wiser and more equitable and feel connected and supported in the process.
But culture is strong, and this work takes daily practice. If I’m not careful, I can easily get hooked back into the belief that I can more easily and quickly move forward on my own.
When I notice this happening, I turn to this list of questions, find one that resonates, and use my reflection to move in the direction of co-leadership, community, and connection.
Print it out and put it on your wall. Add your favorite to a post-it note. Whatever it takes to stay disciplined, because this work takes daily practice.
Let’s be in it together.
10 Questions for Interconnected Leadership
Who’s done this (or something similar) before and could share their learnings and experience with me?
How can I invite others to hold this (vision, project, responsibility, etc.) with me?
How can I share power and leadership with others?
Who might have a wildly different perspective that’s important for me to hear?
What diverse voices and life experiences do I need to tap into to ensure equitable outcomes for this project?
What people and spaces can I connect with to gain a sense of community and belonging? How can I plug into them regularly?
Who might be feeling alone in this struggle who I could reach out to for companionship, support, and connection?
How can I slow down (even just a bit) and involve others (even just a couple) in this before I charge forward on my own?
Who is and/or will be impacted by this work, and how can I involve them early and often in this process?
Who can I ask for help?
