Leadership

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm looking for catch phrases.  I'm looking for language that gets an idea across well, is inherently persuasive, to the point, with wide appeal.  I am using twitter and now IRC chat as a sounding board.  I am using this blog as a way of brainstorming, thinking critically, and organizing my thoughts.

I am of the opinion that 'leadership' in this context means that people take the initiative to do things that need to be done.  Leadership is inevitable (one of my catch phrases).  The ideas that catch on will catch on.  Ways of organizing and working together collectively will come to be.

What do catch phrases have to do with leadership?  Well, things need to happen.  I said in one of my previous blog posts that I was optimistic that ideas would gel, demands would become coherent and practical, and the power of the movement would be harnessed for real change.  That can't happen without language.

At some point, someone is going to have to speak for the movement.  Demands will have to be presented.  The demands will have been decided collectively (if all goes well with respect to leadership) and delivered by someone.  And there's the key - leadership will be the people who make sure that collective decisions are collective, that everyone gets to speak, and that the language we ultimately use to make explicit what we want is truly supported collectively.

If I contribute language that ultimately shapes goals, suggestions, demands, then I'm a leader.  If I suggest ways of organizing that prove to be effective, then I'm a leader.  In general, if I get my ideas out there and people accept them, then I'm a leader.  If I manage to do that in a way that respects everyone else's right to 'lead' in this sense, then I'm a good leader, at least in terms of what 'good' leadership means in this context.

Do I want to be a leader?  Not particularly.  But I admit, I like the idea that something I say might help shape the movement and move things forward.  I'm already past worrying that what I'm doing is worthless.  I can already see that what I've done in the past few days has had an effect, made a difference, and helped the movement achieve its (currently nebulous) goals.

My best catch phrases so far?

Leadership is inevitable.
The movement needs a new vision for leadership, not a lack of it.
It's okay to be nobody and speak.
The power of the movement is not in any individual's voice, but in the collective.

Well, these are the ones I like anyways, and the ones that have been best received.  Take them for what they're worth think about them.  I sincerely hope that these help focus the collective voice.