Leadership, Leaders, and Our Responsibilities to Continue the Journey Toward Equality

Leadership, Leaders, and Our Responsibilities to Continue the Journey

Toward Equality

S. L. Young

Author, Blogger on The Huffington Post,

Business Professor, and Inspirational Speaker

Northern Virginia Community College

“2nd Annual Soul Food Dinner”

2/24/15 © 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

OVERVIEWThis discussion will focus on:

Leadership – What is it?Notable Black LeadersLeadership ConsiderationsRelationship TypesImportance of MentorsYour Responsibility to “PUSH” ForwardParting Thoughts

© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

SESSION EXPECTIONS

Participants should:Be engaged with the discussionsIdentify takeawaysSupport each others’ learningBe excited to learn!Have fun!


MY BACKGROUNDFormer at-risk student who was directed to leave high

school in the 10th grade

Graduate of the American and The George Washington Universities

Over 10 years working in Fortune 500 companies working in: Billing, Engineering, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Product Development, and more

Dreamt of being a writer; realized this dream with 13 published books and becoming a Huffington Post blogger


QUESTIONWhat is leadership?


LEADERSHIP DEFINEDLeadership – an ability to develop, communicate, and execute a vision that inspires individuals to action --- including yourself


QUESTIONWho are some of the historical leaders within the black community?


BLACK LEADERS TYPICALLY IDENTIFIED

Harriett Tubman – escaped slavery and helped others to do the same

Malcolm X – an outspoken advocate without apologies

Martin Luther King, Jr. – led successful non-violent protests to change minds and drive societal changes

Rosa Parks – refused to give her seat on a bus to a white person as required by law


OTHER NOTABLEBLACK LEADERS

Dorothy Height – a civil and woman’s rights advocate who was the president of the National Council of Negro Women for about 40 years

Charles Hamilton Houston – a legal strategist who masterminded the legal challenge against “separate but equal”

Thurgood Marshall – won the landmark case of “Brown v. Board of Education” that eliminated “separate but equal” --- and the first black Supreme Court Justice


EVEN MORE NOTABLE BLACK LEADERS

Ralph AbernathyBenjamin BannekerMum BettRuby BridgesJohnnie CarrShirley ChisholmW.E.B. Du BoisFrederick DouglassMedgar EversMarcus GarveyCoretta Scott King

John LewisMary MahoneyJesse OwensHomer PlessyJames T. RapierJackie RobinsonDred ScottFred ShuttlesworthSojourner TruthBooker T. Washington Ida B. Wells

Sources: http://www.biography.com/people/groups/activists-civil-rights-activists http://www.biography.com/people/groups/activists-civil-rights-activists-female


EMERGING BLACK LEADERSJanet Mock – a transgendered activist who educates black communities about Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) issues

Brittany Packnett – emerged from the Ferguson, MO protects after serving as a liaison between protesters and politicians to drive changes

Phillip Agnew – a battle tested political and social activist (for the past decade) on a variety of civil rights issues


Source: http://time.com/3668782/12-faces-of-black-leadership

LEADERSHIP STYLES MATTERComparison between Martin Luther King’s

and Malcolm X’s leadership: Different approaches and communication styles,

but similar goals

Leaders understand that different strategies and methods can be used to achieve goals and objectives

The environment and culture are important factors to determine an approach that can be used to inspire individuals to action © 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC

All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

QUESTIONWhat type of leadership is preferred: active or passive?


ANSWERWhat type of leadership is preferred: active or passive?


It depends on the individual(s), environment, goal(s), objective(s), and desired outcome(s)

LEADERSHIP – IT’S NOT THISLeaders don’t:

Wait for things to happen

Identify issues without helping with solution development and resolution

Think all the answers are already known

Remain distant from their workers

Disrespect their workers

Ignore the value of their worker’s contributions© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

LEADERSHIP – IT’S THISLeaders:

Create, communicate, and execute their vision

Set high expectations --- for everyone

Ensure their teams and team members have the necessary support

Inspire others to reach greater heights

Demonstrate visible support© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

THE ENVIRONMENT MATTERSEnvironmental knowledge is important:

Every environment has its own personality

Individuals are dynamic and don’t always react or respond in a similar manner

Successes in an environment don’t allows translate to another

Once you think you understand it, it changes


THE ENVIRONMENT MATTERSEnvironmental knowledge is important:

Every environment has its own personalityIndividuals are dynamic and don’t always react or respond in a similar manner

Successes in an environment don’t allows translate to another

Once you think you understand it, it changes


Leaders understand these challenges and make adjustments

QUESTIONWhat words do you use to describe your personal and business relationship types?


QUESTIONABLE RELATIONSHIP TYPES

Appendage

Conditional

Counterfeit

Evaluative

Fair-Weather

Leech

Occasional

Negative

Noncommittal

Situational

Spiteful

Toxic© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.comSource: http://www.slyoung.com/friendship-types.html

POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP TYPES

Cheerleader

Goodtime Charlie

Kindred Spirit

Strategist

© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.comSource: http://www.slyoung.com/friendship-types.html

DESIREABLE MENTORS

Mentors needed are those who are:

Committed to your development

In your fielde.g., accounting, information technology, marketing

In your specialtye.g., asset management, network security, promotions

Outside of your organization© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

QUESTIONWhat is the significance of the expression “crabs in a barrel”?


UNDERSTANDING “CRABS IN A BARREL”

“Crabs in a barrel” – an adage about the behavior of crabs trapped in a barrel; if one tries to escape, then the others will reach up, grab it, and pull it back down


UNDERSTANDING “CRABS IN A BARREL”

“Crabs in a barrel” – an adage about the behavior of crabs trapped in a barrel; if one tries to escape, then the others will reach up, grab it, and pull it back down


A dangerous mentality that if I can’t make it, you shouldn’t make it either

WORKPLACE CHALLENGES

Challenges for minorities in the workplace:

Lack of minority representation in senior positions

Different performance standards / expectations

Discrimination

Workplace bullying


AN ORGANIZATION’SCULTURAL DIVERSITY

Examine an organization’s diversity by: Considering the representation of minorities in a

company’s executive leadership

Reviewing the quantity and placement of minorities in management positions

Examining the representation of minorities on teams

Researching the availability of developmental and mentoring opportunities for minorities


DISCOVER YOUR PATHUnderstand that leaders:

Don’t seek to fail, but aren’t afraid of it Take chances and know the best times to attempt calculated risks

Aren’t afraid of others’ abilities, intelligence, or accomplishments

Don’t make excusesDrive solutionsActively work to create futures --- for individuals and their organizations


REMEMBER…Leadership begins with you, along with your ability to:controldrive, and push yourself


CHANGE THE PARADIGMActively work to promote diversity: Love yourself

Celebrate your and others uniqueness

Don’t discount others positive pursuits

Be aware of and engage with minority groups --- not at the exclusion of the majority groups

Work with others to achieve greater goals and measureable objectives

Celebrate everyone’s accomplishments© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

YOUR RESPONSIBILITYBelieve in yourself to be able to:

Get to know yourself

Be proud of your heritage

Not accept others’ limitations of or for you

Don’t be jealous of others’ successes

Continue to challenge yourself

Help others on their journey

Have fun and celebrate everyone’s success!© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

THINGS TO CONSIDERYour contributions (positive and negative) impact others

Choose wisely the way your energy is used and your time is allocated

Don’t settle for less than you’re capable to achieve

Don’t be afraid to push your perceived limits

Nobody does anything alone


LET’S START THE WORK NOW

I see you!

I believe in me and you!

I support my efforts and yours!

I wish the best for you and me!

Good Luck to all of us!


PARTING THOUGHT #1At times, individuals must step-away, step-back, or step-up:

step-away if you gave it your best and you don't have more to give

step-back to regroup to try it again later

step-up to make a positive difference for yourself and others

---- S. L. Young© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

PARTING THOUGHT #2DO IT FOR YOU:

Do it for you, even though others may question itDo it for you, while others don’t understand itDo it for you, while others may challenge itDo it for you, even if you don’t completely believe it’s possible

Do it for you, especially if your effort will also help others

Do it for you, because positive change starts with you

© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.comSource: It’s a Crazy World…Learn From It / Part IV: The Journey Continues

PARTING THOUGHT #3ROADMAP TO SUCCESS…

Dream (of possibilities)Desire (to do more)Determination (fueled by belief)Drive (to get through the tough times)Decisiveness (to make decisions)Dedication (to achieve the dream)

© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.comSource: It’s a Crazy World…Learn From It / Part I: Taking Care of Me

PARTING THOUGHT #4PURSUE UNRESTRICTED SUSTAINED HAPPINESS (PUSH):

Push yourself to complete a taskPush yourself beyond your pastPush yourself to explore many doorsPush yourself to achieve even morePush yourself to get a different viewPush yourself to become your best you

© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.comSource: It’s a Crazy World…Learn From It / Part IV: The Journey Continues

PARTING THOUGHT #5Your candle is fueled from within, so don’t let anyone reduce or block your fuel to maximize its brightness

---- S. L. Young


IN CLOSING…

BELIEVE IT’S POSSIBLE!

ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY!

BE YOUR BEST!


VIDEO OF THIS PRESENTATION

www.slyoung.com/leadership-thoughts.html


CONTACT INFORMATION

Beyond SPRH, LLC:Website: www.beyondsprh.comEmail: [email protected]

S. L. “Sly” Young:Personal Website: www.slyoung.comPersonal Email: [email protected]

HuffPost Blog: www.huffingtonpost.com/s-l-young© 2015 Beyond SPRH, LLC All Rights Reserved www.beyondsprh.com

Leadership, Leaders, and Our Responsibilities to Continue the Journey Toward Equality

Documents

Transcript of Leadership, Leaders, and Our Responsibilities to Continue the Journey Toward Equality