Each of us can make a contribution. Too frequently, we think we have to do spectacular things. Yet, if we remember that the sea is actually made up of drops of water and each drop counts, each one of us can do our little bit where we are. Those little bits come together and almost overwhelm the world.
Bishop Desmond Tutu. One of 8 amazing speakers at Leadercast 2014.
I’m a firm believer in ‘every little bit counts’. As someone who works as a fundraiser, and is involved in several boards and organizations, this rings true time and time again. We run a campaign at work which solicits $10 contributions, and by the end of the campaign, we’ll have raised over $50,000. That’s huge!
So too is it true for organizational culture – if one person is trying to do everything, there’s a good chance it won’t be done to the level it could be done, or it may take much more time than it would take a group of people. If each person involved takes one task and runs with it, the goal is more easily achieved, or the project more easily completed. Being a leader doesn’t mean doing it all, it means motivating others to help reach a common goal.
John Maxwell said it best in his ‘Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn’ talk… “If you do it all, when you’re gone… nothing gets done.”
So Leaders, don’t underestimate how your small acts of leadership are making good things happen. Go forth, and help create an ocean!
Wait, who do we follow? 