Lift As You Climb

"And so, lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go, struggling and striving, and hoping that the buds and blossoms of our desires will burst into glorious fruition 'ere long."

- Mary Church Terrell

Mary Church Terrell (1865-1954) was a lifelong educator and a leader in movements for women’s suffrage and educational and civil rights. “Lifting as we climb” was the motto of the organization that she founded.

In a previous post, “How the Ubuntu Philosophy Can Transform Your Leadership and Business Practices,” I wrote that we are all in this together, and that every single thing that you do—good, bad, or indifferent—has an effect on you, your family, your friends, your business and our society as a whole. It's more important than ever to embrace Ubuntu philosophy in our business practices. Through collaboration and partnerships, we can more quickly overcome challenges, find solutions, and empower leaders to transform their businesses and inspire a greater sense of purpose and connectedness among their team members. Public comments to this post were unanimously supportive of the idea that “one can only grow and progress through the growth and progression of others." Oh, but, there were some cynical private comments claiming, “You know that’s not how it works.” 

We still have a lot of work to do in the corporate world and beyond to infuse a CARE-based approach into our leadership practices. Oh, sure; there’s plenty of give-and-take in certain circles, if you’re in the right club, class, network or group; but it’s a hard row to hoe for those of us who are committed to greater inclusion and believe that valued partnerships form “a rising tide that lifts all boats.” Toxic cultures characterized by fear and insecurity, lots of politicking, not much transparency, and even bullying or harassment from other team members are still way too common. When these issues are present, it has a devastating effect on people, morale, creativity, performance and ultimately the bottom line.

Standing up for the truth and your principles is no walk in the park, and the path is littered with apathy, fear, and trampled values. Replacing a gotcha and go-along culture with a got-your-back culture requires a “Lift As You Climb” mentality. We must consider where we have been and not leave anyone behind, including the best of ourselves. Lifting as you climb involves making introductions, respecting and empowering others, looking for mutually-beneficial connections, passing along opportunities, facilitating mentorships, networking and getting to know people and their needs. These are simple, small actions; but they can have an outsized, cumulative impact on you, your immediate team, and your broader community. 

Not all are convinced; I get it. I hear some of you guys now thinking this post is only about feminism or civil rights and social change, and that these ideas don’t apply to business. In his best-selling Unstoppable Teams, Alden Mills, a three-time Navy SEAL platoon commander and founder/CEO of one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies, created an acronym—CARE—representing his Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership: 

• Connect is about building trust
• Achieve is about setting direction
• Respect is about creating an environment for mutual contribution
• Empower is about creating owners

Also known as teamwork soft skills, these leadership actions show you care about your team’s growth and well-being, and are largely responsible for turning a group of loosely knit individuals into an unstoppable team. So, lift as you climb, onward and upward we go—together.

Clara Conti is currently working as the General Manager of Presidio Federal. She is a corporate restructuring guru and founder of multiple business startups. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.