Set phasers to inspire
I’m currently preparing for the second Workforclimate (WFC) local hub. It’s exciting on a number of levels, most notably because our guest speaker is David McEwen. I’ve known Dave around 8 years and he has been influential in encouraging my journey into advocacy and activism (particularly in a couple key moments).
In the first instance, it was Dave’s deep knowledge of all things climate (scientific and political) that helped me educate myself and focus my passion. Dave is passionate, meticulous and deals in the facts and practicalities, he quietly goes about his advocacy work. If I were to tie him to this visual, he’d be Spock! {nb. please insert your own Scotty joke here}.
Several years later, it was Dave and Felicity’s generosity of spirit in connecting like-minded climate leaders that led to me to first collaborating with WFC, which helped me step out from workplace activism and into the bigger world.
So this feels like one of those lovely full circle moments, a chance to support the next generation of emergent leaders.
Which brings me to this week’s proposition…
We all need role models, we all need mentors, those who encourage us to take the next scary step. They might take the form of a blustering James Kirk or a measured Spock. This is especially true when it comes to workplace activism. It takes courage to stand up and be counted, to step outside your channel, to speak truth to power when there is deafening silence. When you do, your dissonance relaxes, you feel authentic, and more importantly, you prepare the ground to nurture others.
Warning: When you first beam down onto a treacherous planet, you feel less like the adventurous, charismatic Captain and more like the disposable foot soldier in a red jumper.
For myself, the first employee at Macquarie who visibly championed climate action was the amazing Ash Gardiner. Not sure where Ash ended up but his courage in speaking truth out loud made it ok for me (and others) to follow suit. More than that, he chose action over words – out with his partner in their kayaks cleaning bags of rubbish from Sydney Harbour each weekend. When he left, the endless mine of facts that is Jakub Dworniczak and myself organically stepped up to fill the gap left in environmental activism. I’ve been told multiple times just how much it meant to others that I verbalised (and visualised) what others were afraid to say.
So if you are feeling disillusioned by the lack of action in your own company and not seeing the leaders you need, maybe the leader is you. The corporate hierarchy are part of the very system that drives planetary collapse. Even if they want to champion change on a personal level, they are constrained in ways that prevent emergent thinking and radical systems change.
This is why WFC exist and this is why we set up the local hub, so that emergent leaders can connect, learn and take strength from peers doing this important work. If any of this resonates, we’d love to see you next Tuesday (details in comments), hopefully David or I will lend a shoulder to help you take the next step on your own leadership journey.
Who are the people who encouraged you to step into the breach? Whose shoulders do you stand upon?
Live long and prosper…
Ewan
