« The Ethic of Reciprocity | Main | On My Way to NSA »
The Radical Agenda
I can’t help but wonder what would happen if we would all hold ourselves to the letter of the Golden Rule (see yesterday's post), and not just in our community service or volunteer endeavors (which are no small things), but in our day-to-day, get up and feed the kids go to work get yelled at go for a run at lunchtime come home feed the kids watch American Idol go to bed, kinds of affairs.
That would be something, wouldn’t it? All of us practicing the Golden Rule all the livelong day? Imagine how the customer service experience would change; imagine what your team would be like; your company’s culture; your family’s dynamics. I mean really stop and imagine it—and you’ll see why the G.R. and its cousins is a code for the ages.
Nice, huh? Downright utopian, even. So pardon me for sounding insensitive and more than a little bit blunt:
It’s not going to happen. Not ever. Not on this planet (which is the only one I have empirical experience with). “All of us” is just too idealistic an expectation. Especially when we’re surrounded by these kinds of people.
The good news is that changing the world doesn’t require changing everybody in it. So let’s get real. Let’s forget about “all of us” and focus on “one of us.” That would be you (to you), and me (to me). That’s where it all starts anyway, right? So…
I have a proposition.
In our endeavors to lead, coach or connect with people, let’s take the spirit of the G.R. and ramp it up to the extreme in one significant way: not merely by helping and respecting others, but by doing everything we can to make them more competent, capable, confident, and successful than we are.
The way I see it, that’s the Extreme Leader’s Radical Agenda:
Make others greater than yourself.
Please think this through and consider the implications—both for you and those you lead—and tell us all what you think.
Posted by steve at 07.20.2006 | Comments (5)
Comments: The Radical Agenda
Amp it up Steve!
"Make others greater than yourself," So simple, yet so profound.
Just the message I needed for a little something I'm working on right now.
Nice nugget! I'm keeping it! I'm going to start living it! In other words...I'm in!
Lora Adrianse
http://blogec.typepad.com
Posted by Lora Adrianse at July 20, 2006 04:53 PM
Outstanding idea Steve! Extreme leadership, one person at a time. Let's do it!
Posted by Phil Gerbyshak at July 20, 2006 08:00 PM
By following this mantra, we empower others to follow our example and free ourselves from any expectations.
With the goal being to make others greater than ourselves, we no longer "keep score" and this becomes a sustainable practice.
Posted by Mike Sansone at July 20, 2006 08:59 PM
We have no control over "the world" and others, but we can change ourselves. Making this change you suggest is an awesome and powerful idea.
Posted by Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. at July 21, 2006 07:58 AM
Steve, this is right down the same path of "it's better to give than it is to receive". Giving of oneself in the quest to make others better(and even "greater than ourselves") is a truly rewarding and fulfilling experience - I can't think of a better purpose for humanity. Once again Steve, you are daring to dream - and I'm very happy to dare with you. PS: read and really enjoyed the Radical Edge; I posted my thoughts on my blog. If I sent it to you would you autograph it for me? Thanks.
Posted by Starbucker at July 21, 2006 08:28 AM