Today I was reminded of Simon Sinek’s famous quote “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it!” Quite similar to the question we asked ourselves in preparation for a three minute talk about this topic today: Why do I do what I do?
We took turns asking each other multiple times to truly explore the why behind what we do. And for me, this ultimately comes down to who I am.
Growing up in a house that was not the most warm and loving environment for me, it was essential early on to be friendly to many people. As a result I have learnt very early on how to get along with people from all kinds of different backgrounds. And over time I got to see the absolute beauty and strength of that. I know how much richer my life is because of all the diversity in it.
An idea was presented earlier on this week here at Omega. Life and all organisms in it are thriving in the conditions conducive to life. So simple, and yet so profound. So what are those conditions conducive to life that make organisms thrive? They are:
– cooperation
– generosity
– diversity
– networks
It’s remarkable, how much that maps with everything that I have come to understand is essential in leading to successful outcomes with teams. Functioning cooperation, generosity, diversity and a networked approach to problem solving are key ingredients in making any team successful, and it all comes back to relationships. Which is where my deep desire to connect humans in a peaceful fashion comes back in.
My supportive connections with friends literally are what kept me safe in our often turbulent house at home. In connection with my vast network of amazing friends is where I feel safest, most at ease, most happy and healthy. It is where I feel like I belong, where I feel supported and surrounded by nurturing, caring humans who also are interested in celebrating the beauty of our diverse lives. It comes with holding that paradox that yes, we are all very different, AND in so many ways we are just the same. We all want to feel like we belong, we want to feel safe, we want a loving, supporting community around us, we want generous beautiful people in our lives who catch us when we are feeling down and who happily co-create with us when we are in our power.
So, while at some point my desire to befriend and tend in the face of conflict literally kept me safe; I now think that has ultimately turned into my superpower. I truly believe that when we approach life with a healthy dose of curiosity, a willingness to embrace diversity, a good amount of trust, and a firm belief that we as humans are ultimately at our best and happiest when we cooperate generously, we will thrive! Let’s create that thriving world together!
Inclusive Leaders 