First, you genuinely care for people and the environment. Second, you’ve developed enough presence of mind to have real insight–you see what’s actually going on. And…you observe some real shortfalls and opportunities.That brings us to the third essential quality: it’s time to take initiative.
But there are hazards with taking action: there are at least three wrong ways to go, probably a lot more! So you’ll need to be thoughtful and careful, to look before you leap. Nike notwithstanding, don’t Just Do It! Assess the risks first.
The first risk arises from inside you, and it bedevils a lot of creative people: compulsion. You just can’t sit still. You’re like an addict craving a fix. This is a deep and (usually) very unconscious force, but the energy and drive is powerful and intensely palpable.
One problem with compulsion is that you get too many projects going and you’re totally squeezed for time…it drives you nuts! So if you have the slightest hint that this may be you, look for it, locate it in your psyche, and face up to the pain it’s causing you. Don’t mindlessly, compulsively, rush off and initiate stuff! Spare yourself the distress.
The second risk is deeply ingrained in our culture: you’re driven to perform, to deliver outstanding results, so people will admire you. A therapist might replace that last phrase with, “So your parents will shower you with approval and love!”
There’s nothing wrong with delivering great results and being admired. BUT: if being admired is your underlying motivation, in place of compassion and insight, then you’re doomed to the life of the mouse running forever in the circular cage. You may indeed contribute, but your contribution will be contaminated.
There’s a third risk: unintended consequences. The internal combustion engine is killing our planet, but we’re pretty sure Henry Ford didn’t intend that. It’s very hard to peer far, far downstream, but it’s worth at least a few minutes of risk analysis to try to catch the big ones.
To summarize all that: there’s clearly a time and place to do nothing. BUT: the compassionate and insightful leader will soon recognize that she lives in a target-rich environment: there are tons of things crying out for leadership initiative. Think carefully about leverage and effectiveness, and then grab the microphone and go to work. Take the lead, be the champion, get it done. Initiative is an act of the will as much as anything.
Observation: leaders seem to be endowed with an uneven mix of compassion, insight, and initiative; and yet you need all three, working in concert, to be effective. For you personally, which of these is strongest, and which is your growing edge?
