Enabling Others

As always Glen, I find myself closely aligned with your post about Francine LeFrak and humanity-centred leadership, as it aligns very closely with what I call Enablership as described in my book The Art of Enablership.

Enablership shifts the emphasis away from the leader as the central figure.

Instead, it focuses on creating the conditions in which other people are able to contribute fully, develop their capabilities and become the best versions of themselves.

It is not about exercising power over people but enabling them to make the best possible contribution.

Your references to connection, gentleness and the “little virtues” are especially relevant. Lasting influence does not always result from dramatic actions.

It is often created through everyday acts of trust, encouragement, respect and generosity. When these are repeated by others, they create the ripples of humanity you describe.

Lafayette’s story also illustrates that this is not simply a leadership technique, or a set of behaviours to be adopted when convenient.

It is about the kind of person we choose to become, the relationships we form and what we enable other people to become [what we create].

Perhaps the true measure of a Champion, and an Enabler, is not how many followers they attract, but how many people they enable to grow in confidence, fulfil their potential and make their own distinctive humane contribution.

Thank you Glen for being a true champion of helping others.

Barrie

PS - By Glen

Barrie, thank you so very much for your very kind words. It's been such a privilege to have known you and Ann this past 25 years. Looking forward to what comes next!

Barrie has been consistent in his message to me over these years: the strong-man leader (or strong-woman) has its applications, but also comes with a health warning.

Better to create and enable others to be the best versions of themselves - and then harness the enduring strength that this unlocks.