One Apple A Day #669 - intention and higher purpose
A few days ago, a dear friend shared with me this compelling article. It's an interview with Captain "Sully" Sullenberger. Yep, that famous Sully who's story became a movie with Tom Hanks a few years ago.
At the beginning of 2009, he saved the lives of the over 100 passengers of the US Airways Flight 1549 when with his crew he managed to safely land his disabled plane in the Hudson River.
The interview is about his mental discipline and how he learned to handle the immense pressure of being a pilot. But what most struck me about this interview is his perspective on leadership. There are many nuggets that you will find in the article, but his answer to the last question - How can you prepare yourself to lead? - has been in mind since I read it.
There are a lot of opportunities to make a difference in smaller or less obvious ways. There are ways to lead even driving in traffic: by choosing to let someone in front of you rather than cutting them off. Sometimes a small group will experience some social awkwardness, and then one person will take the initiative to say a word or do something. And people will follow them. That's all it takes. Being the one to say, "This is where we start."
This morning I was sitting in my morning reflections. Beside me a card that says "everyone has the power to affect the direction of an organisation" and in my head those words.
That's all it takes. Being the one to say, "This is where we start."
I emerged from my meditation with two insights about my journey to nurture my inner leadership.
Being intentional in every word, choice, action.
As Viktor Frankl wrote "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." When I choose how to respond to circumstances, and I act with intention, I practice leadership.
Act with a higher purpose.
Anytime my intention goes beyond myself and my personal achievement, I practice leadership.