“The greatest threat to our planet,” writes Robert Swan, a polar explorer, “is the belief that someone else will save it.”
The minute I read this powerful statement I realized that the greatest threat to an organization is the assumption that someone else will change it and make it better. The common assumption is that someone else can “save” the company.
However, we must not succumb to this mindset. We need to be the ones who step up and make positive and effective changes within our circle of influence irregardless of whether or not we are the positional leader. We can create healthier teams, better local customer service, and stronger interpersonal relationships. We may not be the leader as defined by a positional title but we can be a leader.
I agree with Margaret Wheatley when she wrote: “A leader is anyone willing to help, anyone who sees something that needs to change and takes the first steps to influence that situation.”
Every day, we can choose to be a person who is helpful. We can take the first steps to influence a situation.
Every day, we can notice a problem, own a problem, and solve a problem. The greatest threat is the belief that someone else will do it.
Every day, this moment of choice is happening all around us. People are stepping up and helping out. We need to notice their effort and support them.
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
The greatest threat to our companies is the belief that making it better is someone else’s job.
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