Leadership

It's been almost a month since I attended Tavis Smiley's "Talented Tenth HBCU Tour". On Friday, September 9, 2005, Smiley addressed those assembled at Morgan State University about leadership, but particularly the importance of sustained leadership in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Smiley's talk was geared more towards the younger people sitting in the audience, those students and young people Smiley considered part of the "talented tenth". The "talented tenth" has historically referred to those fortunate enough to be able to receive a college education. Over the past several weeks as I became more enthralled in my sophomore year in college and began to assume various leadership positions on campus, and elsewhere, I was able to give Mr. Smiley's words much more thought. As I went about engaging in leadership I had more time to meditate on the relevance of his words and their possible application to my life.

Smiley began by making the point that, "Power concedes nothing without demand, it never has and it never will." Mr. Smiley suggested that as citizens we endeavor to hold government and our other various leaders within our communities accountable for meeting our needs, or their failure to meet our needs.

He also said, "You are stepping into your role in leadership at a crucial time in Black America's history." In our existence as young African Americans Smiley says that we find ourselves in a very interesting place, a place which is much different than where our ancestors once were.

"In the continuum of leadership we have a unique dilemma, 'how do we represent without having the context of having been denied?'" Because of the sacrifices of those who came before, we have so many more liberties, some of which we take for granted, because we don't understand what it took for them to get there.

In order to be more capable leaders Smiley offered this advice:
1)"Understand there is a distinct difference between the broad way and the narrow way. If you are to be a leader of any significance you will have to go the narrow way." It sounds like a cliche but it's so important for people to be independent and not follow what everyone else is doing.

2)"There's a difference between propulsion and jet stream...Propulsion is the energy of the operation and jet stream is left behind." Be what pushes our community forward, not what holds them back.

3)"There is a distinct difference between greatness and success...Go for greatness, never mind success." Be focused on creating a legacy and having a lasting impact on those who stand with you, and those who will come after you.

4)"Constant motion and forward motion are two different things." You don't want to be moving just for the sake of moving, but instead moving towards a certain destination.

5) "There is a big difference between optimism and hope." Smiley says that too often a focus on just being successful causes us to settle, and not go for greatness.

Smiley, time and time again talked about the importance of servant leaders.

While some believe that Smiley is not saying anything new, I must say that atleast he creates dialogue and discussion. Creating a dialogue which allows people to see their own potential for leadership even if it's only leadership in their everyday lives, is better than having people reliant on the leadership of others.