Is Your Work Calling You to Be Bigger?

Leadership happens when the professional becomes personal. It is time for us to start telling the truth about that.

Leadership is when you start seeing yourself as part of the work. Not just as an employee who does their job, but a ruthless innovator in how it gets done.

For you, maybe that time is now.

Maybe now is the time for you to be bigger.

Maybe it’s time for you to stop being humble and start being more of who you really are in your work.

Perhaps you are at a crossroads in your leadership journey, even as the path to your true purpose is calling you so loud, it’s practically shouting at this point to get your attention.

(Perhaps you are hearing it now, as you read this post.)

Me?

Right now, I am feeling my work calling me to be much bigger. To be bolder in what I teach and to speak with greater authenticity.

My work is calling me to be very open and brave. With the people I coach. With the words I write.

I am saying yes.

What about you? Is your work calling you to be bigger? More courageous? More aligned with your values?

If so . . . what are you going do about it?

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Travis Phillips

I love it! Had a great opportunity last week–my review–to reflect on where I’m at and where I want to be. It ended up being an amazing tool to identify my goals and to allow me to communicate to my Director what I want that focus to be. Total win-win.
http://twitter.com/EDUCATIONCEO TheParentsEducator

I have felt this many times, especially when I was teaching. Unfortunately, a big part of the education culture (especially in the South) is to keep your mouth shut and do your job. By job I mean: Keep control of the kids in your classroom. Leadership roles are reserved for those who know how to fall in line, play the games, and cover-up dirt. Those things have never been a part of my passion or vision. I got to the point where I had to choose between advocating on behalf of my son and keeping a job/pay check. Needless to say, I was unemployed for 4 years so you know which choice I made. in every position, no matter the pay, I have always been true to myself and remained steadfast to the work ethic which was ingrained in me: Be on time. Dress appropriately. Work hard. Go above and beyond. But I always find myself in organizations that don’t seem to value those things. It is for that reason I have decided to use what I know to do the things which I love. Am I scared? Hell yes but the alternative is remaining stifled and under-appreciated, neither are things I desire nor plan to make room for.

Great post and keep up the good work!
Monique

My job is calling me to be bolder. I’ve just accepted a different position at my employer,in which, requires a vast amount of responsibility. I started to feel that my past position didn’t challenge me enough. I started to dislike what I did. When the opportunity came along for me to perform a different task. I jumped in head first. Many of my coworkers said that I was brave for accepting a position with such responsibility. I am confident that God has given me the knowledge I need to excel in this new and exciting position.
Theuri Martin

Simple but very thoughtful post,Rosetta.For me I look at it more broadly even in terms of challenging your employer in areas you fell that they need to go in a different way.
Theuri Martin

Simple but very thoughtful post,Rosetta.For me I look at it more broadly even in terms of challenging your employer in areas you fell that they need to go in a different way.
Theuri Martin

Simple but very thoughtful post,Rosetta.For me I look at it more broadly even in terms of challenging your employer in areas you fell that they need to go in a different way.
Sandy

Rosetta, I think you’re right. I believe strong leadership in a nonprofit is part of the backbone of its success, and unfortunately, way too many people in leadership roles simply aren’t stepping up to the plate. It’s time for folks to lead, follow, or get out of the way! Nonprofit work is too important to have wishy-washy leadership.

Sandy Rees
Fundraising Coach

http://www.rosettathurman.com/ Rosetta Thurman

Thanks for stopping by, Sandy! I totally agree with this: “Nonprofit work is too important to have wishy-washy leadership.” The nonprofit sector needs courageous leaders now more than ever.

http://kabarnes.wordpress.com/ Karen Barnes

Thanks for re-posting this today (saw it on Twitter). I am feeling this exact way right now. I just started my current job a couple months ago and have been consistently in reactionary mode, just trying to keep things afloat while learning everything there is to learn (which has been like drinking from a fire hose). This week, though, I’m feeling the shift happening. I can no longer be reactionary and afraid to make mistakes or say the wrong thing. It’s time to step out, be bold, get strategic, and get some innovative things done. So thanks for a quick moment of inspiration.