All About People

Don’t panic! This isn’t another election blog! 

Although the General Election is obviously massively significant (please vote, it matters) it has made me reflect on how we can – and should – own our own power and agency regardless of which flavour of political party is in power. 

Recently we’ve been working in a few local communities with community members, volunteers and staff who are wanting to see change happen locally. Whilst there have been some great discussions and energy, it has really struck me that when asked ‘who should do …..’ the answer is often  ‘someone else’. Usually someone perceived to be ‘senior’ or a decision maker that holds all the power but isn’t in the room. The phrase ‘that’s above my pay grade’ is oft (over-)used as a reason to not take action. 

Over my (*cough) many decades of working with people, I have always been inspired by those who step up, speak up and (appear to) just make things happen. Sometimes these are the ninja warriors who quietly work around the edges, develop ideas and plans and then boom it’s happening. Sometimes these are the balls of fire who are enraged about something and determined to do everything and anything to create change. 

The current election – and all of the discussion around it -has really brought this home to me. Whilst voting, lobbying and political activism are absolutely critical to making change, we must also avoid the apathy of  waiting to be told what to do, or waiting for political leaders to (maybe) take action. Why are we waiting? All too often the change lies within us. 

There are millions of reasons why we don’t take the actions we know in our guts and our hearts are needed. Sometimes that’s because we’re worried about getting it wrong, or about ‘putting our heads above the parapet’, but often it’s about doubting our own power – thinking we’re too small, too insignificant to make a difference.

But we all hold our own power to take action. Thousands of tiny community groups exist because someone has decided they want to do something. These ‘activists’ (for want of a better term) seek out the other ‘can do’ people and often fill the gaps that public services can’t meet. I would characterise them as people who don’t take no for an answer! These same people exist in our public services, really wanting to ‘do better’, to rock the boat and create waves of change that lead to dramatic improvements. But the barriers seem to be even higher and the personal risks even greater when you’re ‘on the inside’ – if you feel like you’re going to lose your job you’re not going to risk it are you? The most significant changes happen, not because of Government action, but when people come together and lead the change they want to see and feel. Think about the suffragettes who achieved the vote for women, Rosa Parks who stood up against racial segregation (discrimination) in the US, the continuous stream of amazing breakthroughs in medical research, or the tiny community group that’s making sure children and families don’t go hungry. Of course, the famous Margaret Mead quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” highlights this. These people didn’t wait for permission, they cracked on even when others placed barriers in their way. 

My sense is that this is a challenge for many senior leaders and those in the highest positions of power and decision-making authority. In my experience the best leaders are the ones who lead from behind. They recognise the need for them to be explicit in their permissions and create environments where mistakes and ‘failure’ are learning opportunities. If they were in a room with their team you probably wouldn’t be able to pick them out as ‘the boss’ because they are working alongside their team, they are curious and open to new ideas, they are fully engaged in supporting everyone in their team to work to the best of their ability and beyond, they are often the quietest, encouraging others to speak up and own their ideas and work. 

As leaders, managers, decision-makers … whatever term you want to use, we need to pay more attention to how we are supporting others to be their best selves. Welcoming the ideas and creativity even when we don’t really understand it or it doesn’t immediately appear to fit our existing plan. Instead of being the ‘decision-maker’ and carrying the burden of having to know all the answers, how can we really connect with the creativity, expertise and experiences of the people we work with to deliver change, at whatever level you are working at and whatever role you’re in, that actually means something for the people we serve? 

It really feels like the time to own our own power and agency to create hope for the future – a future that we can create together regardless of the colour of the political party that forms the Government of the day. 

Can we help you to explore something that really matters or is really challenging you, your team, organisation or community? Find out more about our work at www.allaboutpeople.org.uk or email hello@allaboutpeople.org.uk or contact me directly at olivia@allboutpeople.org.uk