During the last three months having been gifted three months of ‘me’ time, I have been exploring what I truly stand for. What is important enough for me to spend my heart beats fully engaged in?
As a Type 7 on the Enneagram, many things attract my attention, a bit like a magpie. Ohh, this looks good, this looks like fun, that book looks interesting, wait a minute, that webinar looks fascinating…… and so on.
While I have been exploring this, I recalled a breakfast I had with two amazing women earlier on in the year. Thanks to one of those women, the three of us catch up at least once, if not twice a year, to share our stories and the journey of our lives.
Their stories at our last breakfast really moved me and reminded me of the importance of standing up for what we truly believe in. Those stories have stayed with me and provided me with encouragement during this time, when I could have spent the time, rather than investing the time in developing skills, knowledge and creating something (my soon to be released book) -- that will hopefully contribute to some people’s own developmental journey and some space from unnecessary suffering.
So… what were the stories?
The first story was a personal one.
This amazing woman stood for the right of a community to save a beautiful, old tree from unnecessary destruction. Needless removal of a much-loved home to birds, bees, bugs and a feature of the street, one that created beauty and much needed greenness to the environment.
This brave woman, along with the other people in the community, held vigil against those who turned up with the chainsaws. This was not a theoretical protest, one written on paper, one where a person talked about how this shouldn’t happen and how ‘someone’ should do ‘something’… no, this was a physical, all heartbeats protest.
This person did the sitting in front of the tree to prevent its destruction. And not when it was convenient – a couple of hours on a Saturday morning. No, this person did the 8-hour sitting from midnight to dawn, day in and day out. In the cold, in the dark and in the face of aggressive people demanding her and the others ‘move on’.
Sadly, one dark, cold morning just after dawn when she was the only person guarding the tree, they moved on her quickly and swiftly. Two busloads of police, around 60 in total, were in attendance. She grabbed the whistle to call for help, but too late, and she was physically removed.
But not without a fight.
Brave to the end, once safely behind her own front fence, faced with a line-up of police, she started to ‘water her lawn’ and ended watering the police as well.
Brave and hilarious…
Sadly, the tree was ultimately removed.
What a story of bravery and standing up for what she believed in. I was so moved and encouraged and inspired by this account, I often recall it when making a decision that calls for courage and it entices me to do what I stand for.
The other story was equally as inspiring and needed just as much courage. The other story was based in the workplace.
The people who reported to my friend had raised a concern that the front of the distribution centre had become overcrowded with pallets and the pallets were loaded up with drums that were too high -- preventing a clear line of site when moving between them with vehicles, forklifts and pedestrians.
The team were really concerned about the safety of this situation.
My friend acted immediately and issued a decision that no further pallets or drums would be received until the current situation was rectified and the front of the centre was safe.
This would have an impact of course on the business from a relationship with customers perspective as well as an income perspective. My friend was fully aware of this, but she stood for the safety of her team and made the difficult decision.
Later in the morning, she received a phone call from her boss, questioning her decision and strongly recommending she change her mind. She explained clearly why she was going to continue with the action, even in the face of disapproval.
Later in the afternoon she received a phone call from someone even senior to her boss, questioning her decision and again, strongly recommending she make a different one.
Again, she stood up for what she believed was right and was willing to defend the safety of her team.
A brave move given the circumstances and the underlying consequences that were indicated if she did not change her mind.
But no, she did not.
She was clear in her intention that the safety of her team was her most important concern, and she stood up to those who wanted a different decision.
How inspiring!
Some of you reading this might think, well that is what should have happened.
Believe me, I have worked in health and safety for a long time and it takes a special sort of someone to make a decision like that and stick to it in the face of strong adversity.
I often think of this story when working with other organisations and they try to use ‘the boss won’t let me do this’ line.
I ask them ‘What do you stand for?’
Leadership is not for the feint hearted.
It takes courage, wisdom and the ability to have incredible conversations so that what you stand for can be expressed into the world.
Don’t be afraid to take a stand…