We Lead Our World

Great leadership usually starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference.

— Mac Anderson

My heart is breaking. I am feeling a mixture of emotions about the behaviours and leadership I am seeing around the Globe especially around how we are treating people. Why can't we see and embrace hat everyone is beautiful, unique and special regardless of the who they are, what they look like or believe in and so forth. Look at what is happening in the US and now around the globe in response to George Floyd? Can you believe it's 2020 and we are still treating people like this. I am literally so mad, disappointed, sad, frustrated and committed to change. And look at how the key leaders in the US are dealing with it.

When I published my first book Leadership Attitude in 2016 I was on a mission to build and create a world of more kind and inclusive leaders. I (and we) are still committed to this more than ever. Why? Because of what I was seeing and hearing around the globe and I am going to change this. Why? Because my 13 year daughter (now she is 18) was bullied terribly for being different and kind and attempted suicide several times because of it. It was the worst time of my life and all due to the words and actions of others trying to pull her down.

This impacts EVERYONE. This has to STOP! This is why I continue to write about it, speak about it across the globe and why we launched our awards this year celebrating leaders and leadership committed to kindness, inclusiveness and courage.

WE LEAD OUR WORLD. If not us, then who?

This is an excerpt from my book Leadership Attitude - Chapter 24 - You Lead Our World.

I remember taking a leap of faith in myself and focusing on my passion, purpose – and what made me different! I owned that difference to start LeadershipHQ. It took courage, passion, determination and guts to do this. To not try and compete or be like anyone else. To be just me. Just different. And there have been times where that difference has been applauded and celebrated, and other times judged and criticised.

We are not born to judge, discriminate or hate someone because they are different. We learn this. We can also learn to love, respect, and care for everyone despite of the differences.

I remember Martin Luther King saying “I have a dream; I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”

The thing is, even though we have made progress, we still seem to be playing the same game now. We have just found 100 different ways to play it.

I have a dream, too, but I want a world where we are not having the diversity debate or discussion. It is not about race, disability, gender or age. It is about appreciating that we have a world of 7.3 billion humans where we are each different. We celebrate uniqueness and 7.3 billion people’s diversity of thought.

I want a world where instead of ‘The Business Case’, it’s just part of Business.

Instead of ‘it starts with me’, it starts with ‘we’.

Instead of ‘gender intelligence’, we see intelligence in all.

I want a world where we know that creativity and innovation is within each one of us.

A world where we feel truly safe for authentically being who we are.

A world where we see you, truly see you!

I want us to commit to not the word ‘diversity’ but to the action of embracing our differences.

Since going on my journey, taking a leap of faith to start my own company, I focused on what was unique and different about me, and I owned it. I owned my difference. I’m not perfect. None of us are, but it is our imperfections that make us real. We may have disabilities, but they are what give us the ability to be our unique selves.

I ask you, what are we really doing about diversity? Are we hard wired to see what we want to see, no matter what we are? Or can we do something about it?

What if we could lead everyone towards the ideal world?

What if we could show people what the world looks like when diversity was not the buzz word but part of how we live? What if we could model in our language and actions such things as acceptance, appreciation of difference, and the value of the unique, human respect, inclusivity and vulnerability?

What if we could lead people to a world where there was no judgment, and we are truly seen for how we are, respected and being respectful?

This is my dream.

I invite everyone to stop the conversation and take action. Stop the debates and start showing up as the leaders we are.

We are all capable of experiencing and learning to enjoy this brand new world, but not everyone is able to take us there.

The world won’t change while we talk about it. We can only create a world where it is safe to be who we are if we start leading and showing the way.

If you and I don’t do it, who will?

I see and lead that world…. You lead OUR world. We lead OUR world.

How can you start to lead our world?

·     Create your Legacy now. Think about how you want to be remembered. Leadership starts with you.

·     Do not judge. It is easy to make assumptions about others. Assumptions based on our beliefs and biases. Be open and inclusive to everyone around us.

·     Practice inclusiveness. We are all different. Embrace it. We do not have to agree with everyone as they have their own assumptions, beliefs and thoughts. The best leaders are open to diversity of thoughts – be inclusive.

·     Make them feel safe. The brains number one role is to keep us safe from threat. Make them feel safe inside and out. Make them feel safe to be truly who they are.

·     Be the change you want to be and see. If you want a world where there is a change, lead the way.

About Sonia McDonald

Sonia McDonald is the CEO and founder of LeadershipHQ and McDonald Inc. Sonia is an in demand keynote speaker, leadership coach and advisor, author and facilitator.

Sonia works one on one with CEO’s of Multi-National organisations and advisory boards to start up enterprise, facilitating in-office workshops with emerging leaders and supporting companies through cultural transformation and positive wide behavioural change.

For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of Human Resources, Leadership and People and Culture. She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is recognised as a LinkedIn influencer and has become an in-demand keynote speaker, starts important conversations. Sonia has also been recognised in the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Entrepreneurs across Australia by Richtopia.

She is an award-winning published author of Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! With her third book close to completion, Sonia understands the importance of distilling inspiration and cold hard facts into a few digestible pages. Entertaining and irreverent, you will find a methodology that takes you courageously to the next step of your career or journey

Keynote Speaker

Sonia has been a keynote speaker for over a decade and has delivered presentations to a thousands of people all over the world. Renowned for her candid rhetoric, personable insights and fierce business acumen, her presentations and books have transformed how people worldwide conduct themselves as leaders. Book Sonia HERE.

Phone 1300 719 665

www.soniamcdonald.com.au

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