From the hip Leaders are driven with passion from a deep place of core beliefs and values
Some things just blow your hair back and at that moment you feel a bit validated. I was speaking recently at the Youth Ag Summit in Calgary and was pleased to meet the great leaders of tomorrow there — several were from Alberta.
As I entered the conference a woman from South Africa, who had been following my work for the past year jumped at the chance to talk to me. I was so humbled by the experience that it took everything I could do not to weep in front of her and the 117 other global delegates. Whether we stumble or parade through life is not of consequence. What is of importance here is that as we move through it — someone is watching. The transparency of our actions makes it even more so. And they look to us — look up to us — to show them the attributes of agricultural leaders.
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What makes a great leader? I broached this subject in my presentation and I would like to share that with you. As I have travelled the world, I have eaten everything from radish to rattlesnake to brie and baby camel. It was all good. That food was prepared in my honour on every stove from a $500,000-euro affair that was 14 feet long to the one square foot of brick oven fuelled by cow dung. And it was prepared with love. And the people who I shared it with were rich and poor and of every race and religion, from farm or city, able and disabled, men and women and they were all — beautiful. What made them so was that among and within them were leaders.
Leaders are driven with passion from a deep place of core beliefs and values. They are centred and grounded even when life or business gets rather frantic. Calm and assured in their principles, they are a constant. In addition, those leaders stand accountable for themselves, their farm, their company and their people. The born leader does not claim that the tree jumped onto the road when they smash up the family car. Rather, they own the problem and admit to the error following up with a collective solution that works. “I smashed the family car and apologize. What is it that I have to do, or we can do together to solve the problem?”
Have you ever thought about how your core values and beliefs are an inspiration to other people? When I was done, a young lady from Manitoba said she picked up a clear Christian message. Yes indeed — it was meant to be so!
Always prepared
I have often used the farm kitchen table as the ultimate example of preparedness. Is it not amazing that you can drop in at any farm in any country and they come out with a meal from a seemingly empty cupboard? This is because the farm is the ultimate example of preparedness. Just as the garden is grown for the winter as is the livestock seed, so is the pantry or freezer stocked for that “just in case” moment! Have you ever thought about how your preparedness sets you apart?
In all places and at all times, I find true leaders to be generous and kind. They do not have to shout out their name for attention, everyone knows who they are because they respect them. They care enough to remember your name and to ask what is important to you. They understand that to truly be a leader, one has to first serve, because when we are servants, we are not greater (or less) than any other. And serving comes as naturally as the sun rising for these men and women, boys and girls. Have you ever thought about how your kindness will change and empower others?
I feel the leader of tomorrow will have something else in their kit bag as well — a way of leading through inspiration. A way of attracting the right people and keeping them for the betterment of their community and their nation. This is why mentorship is so very important. Mentorship is not coaching or guiding. It is not providing solutions. It is the drawing out of the best that is within a person so they may find their own solutions. It is “unconditional” in its format and “unconventional” in its approach. To mentor is to find that seed laying latent in the pasture and to provide the right environment for it to grow. It is to empower, enable, liberate and permit. Mentorship is the giving of oneself in servitude solely for the benefit of the other.
All great leaders carry a passion that burns from a core belief that aligns with their values. They are prepared at all times for all things and do not let incidences hinder their leadership. They own their mistakes and with great skill and kindness empower those around them. As they are there for the long haul — they are ok with the idea of mentoring — so that someone else at any point in time can fill their shoes. It is leading without fear of self or threatening others. The room at the summit was full of young men and women of courage and determination from around the world. Groomed and prepared — they were prepared for the transparent world in which we live and they committed to lead it without apology to the next level of excellence.
