Being True to Ourselves

Leadership requires a strong inner core. It is important for a leader to have a clear sense of the purpose and values that drive his or her decisions and actions. We've all seen the leader who seems to shift with the wind and follows fads, dollars, or popular opinion, without a clear sense of what his or her core is. But many of the leadership books discussed in Chapter Three make the case that leaders must be clear about their core purposes and values before they try to influence and engage with others. One reason we emphasize life stories so early in the process at Public Allies is that we want Allies to be able to make sense of their experiences, their motivations, and their purposes. Such clarity will be the foundation of their leadership. We believe it is important for leaders to be clear about why they lead, what values their work is grounded in, and what their personal missions are. We encourage Allies to practice our five core values, but we also encourage them to clarify their personal values, which come from life experiences, beliefs, ethics, and moral traditions.