Manchester Community Action Coalition (MCAC)’s Post

I'm reminded that true leadership is not about seeking validation from others, but about staying committed to our values and purpose. It's easy to get caught up in the prestige and power associated with titles and positions, but this words serve as a humbling reminder that our worth and impact are not defined by external validation. Let's strive to lead with authenticity, humility, and a willingness to learn from others. By doing so, we'll create spaces where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background or position. #LeadershipLessons #Inspiration #AuthenticLeadership

The right exposure is absolutely critical.

I'll never forget when I had this exact same revelation. I was still in my 20s and had recently returned to technology sales after a several year detour going back to school for a second degree in Landscape Architecture (because I had hated my first door to door sales job at MCI so much). So I greatly appreciated the softer inside-outside sales job I was able to land in 1998 after door to door sales and then 2 years of hard labor leading landscape build crews. That perspective helped me quickly do enough to catch the attention of our group's leadership. After a few months I get put on an Advisory Council for our whole division and part of that was small group exposure to division Presidents and even the C-suite at a billion dollar plus telecom behemoth. And in the very first one we get to do a Q&A with a C-suite leader... the big time I thought! I was nervous and had a few questions ready to go that I'd labored over for a few days that I thought were pretty smart. But the executive we met with wasn't really prepared and struggled to come up with a substantive answer for anyone's questions. The vocabulary and presence were not at all what you'd expect, and it sure didn't sound like anything you'd read that he was quoted with in the news back then. It struck me like a lightning bolt in that room that maybe these decisions on who gets to lead billion dollar companies aren't entirely different than the all style no substance popularity rules that had governed us as high school and college kids when deciding leaders for anything we chose them for. And a lot of times in those it was how rich someone's parents were, what car they drove, or what college their parents could help them into. In work, it's often an extension of these things manifested as a "professional network". And once you strip away the awe of the title you start seeing a lot more examples of average to just plain dumb people in some pretty fancy offices. This experience sent me down a fast path of no longer assuming a title or a degree meant anyone knew more than I did. They may and I found that many did, but it wasn't because of the title they held. And in every case I realized that I also knew a lot that they didn't and that between us we could solve even bigger challenges. So if you harbor any insecurity at all about not belonging in a room full of fancy titles and degrees...stop! In fact, if you made it into that room without them you may well be the most gifted person in it.

Being exposed is the advantage….exposure teaches you how to communicate, be politicly savvy, etc.

"Thank you, President Obama, for this powerful reminder. In a world where, too often, we are discouraged or dismissed by those who see strength as a threat rather than an asset, it’s essential to remember the value of standing tall and staying true to your purpose. Never be perturbed to follow your desires by the perception of others and their beliefs. Being denied a place at the table or being denied the opportunity to progress isn't a reflection of your worth as a person; rather, it's a testament to the power your presence brings. It is in these moments of exclusion that opportunities are cultivated into resilience, inspiring others, and reminding you that your voice matters, whether or not it’s welcomed. It’s often those who feel most threatened by your potential who attempt to exclude you from progression. We must push forward with tenacity and hard work by continuing to stay uplifted and positive, striving for inclusive spaces where every voice is heard and respected. President Obama's 'Spotlight podcast' resonates profoundly with the shifting dynamics in British politics, underscoring the importance of perseverance and the possibility of change. Kemi Badenoch's ascent within the Conservative Party is a powerful testament to breaking barriers and redefining what's possible. I wonder how often she was told by classmates, colleagues, or even mentors that a Black leader within the Conservative Party was a distant, if not impossible, vision. On 20 April 1968, Encoh Powell made the "River of Blood Speech", to the same Conservative party in Birmingham. Some 56 years on Kemi's journey serve as an inspiring reminder that real progress is made when we challenge preconceived limitations and continue to strive for representation in all spaces. Imagine if Kemi Badenoch, now the Conservative Party leader, had yielded to the weight of negative rhetoric rooted in the past ideologies of her party. Her leadership journey would have been stifled by limitations set by others, preventing her from redefining what representation in leadership can look like today. By refusing to conform to the constraints of outdated perspectives, Badenoch exemplifies the courage it takes to bring genuine change from within. Her resilience against such rhetoric serves as a powerful statement about the role of perseverance in challenging norms and inspiring new generations to see beyond the barriers others set. It’s a testament to the fact that true leadership isn’t about fitting in; it’s about shaping new paths forward. This moment speaks not only to the changing face of leadership but to the importance of diversity and resilience in shaping the future."

I get asked a lot about my feelings of belonging in certain spaces. I guess because by certain standards I've "made it" to places where I "shouldn't" have, it's a valid question but it's a strange one to answer because I really believe 3 things: 1. The sooner we stop idolizing and putting people on pedestals just because of a position they occupy, the sooner we embrace our own power and limitations and allow change to happen. 2. The idea that positional leadership is the only leadership that matters and that those in positional leadership should be perfect are two myths that really only serve to limit the power of the collective and increase learned helplessness. 3. When you realize that all kinds of people occupy positions of leadership you start to wonder less and less about whether you belong and more about what you can get done before anybody decides you don't.

A complete liar and fraud of any type of ethics or human decency. Should be investigated for his actions and put out of this great country!

And in the Book of Barack it states:

The sense of belonging starts with your own personal affirmation.