Ripples...Waves...Tsunami - Article

I often hear people asking; how can I get the message out? How can I make change happen? Those who need to hear the message don’t come out to the forums where the message is being delivered… how can we make sure they hear it so they recognize the importance of it? Why don’t people listen to me? How can I change them? Make them see what they should be doing? Hear and understand the message?

You can’t. Simply put you cannot change anyone. You cannot “make” them see what they “should” do. They will not “hear” and “understand” anything if they are not willing and curious about it to begin with. And how do they get that way if it all seem hopeless.

Some good ways to do it with out having to twist somebody’s arm are:

• Lead by example
• Create the space to invite others to become curious
• Speak from your authentic self
• Speak your truth and encourage others by being curious about their truths
• Tell people what you have experienced that is meaningful to you
  

There is nothing special or extraordinary about these things. There is no need to take a special course, it is something we all have access to right now, within each of our beings; our authentic sound/voice and the ability to be curious and have fun.

You can lead by example by simply being your authentic self, decloaking your brilliance for all to see. Other can see this and may become curious about your message, your passion. They will see the confidence and clarity in you and perhaps become curious about how they too can engage in life differently.
If just one person is moved by the message you have or story you hold they will speak of it, perhaps be so moved by it they will tell everyone they see. If they relay the message to another, because your story moved them enough that they are still talking about it, they will in turn make someone else curious about it. That person begins to speak and so the ripples of change begin.

We cannot expect cultural, organizational or generative change to happen in an instant. However the ripples grow into waves, the waves grow into tidal waves… and eventually the tsunami will come. I feel that tsunami is imminent, we are literally on the cusp, the tipping point as it has been referred to by many. The momentum is out there. All organizations are buzzing about it, through the public and private sector, through all levels of government. Change is needed and the old way of running business just isn’t working anymore. Women, now more than ever, want to be an actively engaged part of this change. And it will happen with women in the lead.

Every where I turn I am meeting people who want more, who know they can make a difference and want to be ignited and empowered.

The culture is primed for it. New employees coming into organizations are not always going to be content with sitting around doing the work and not having a voice. This needs to be addressed and recognized immediately if we want to retain these individuals who are already ignited and willing to engage. We need to celebrate our diversity, not just accept it or deem it equal. We are each brilliant individuals regardless of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexuality or ability. We each have a unique story to tell that if celebrated would enrich us all as an individuals, an organization and more importantly our society.

We all have a story to tell, one that will bring up information within ourselves which we can grow from.

We can all get the message out, what ever the message may be. We all have a brilliant voice that deserves to be heard and we should all live authentically to encourage change; the changes that are so desperately needed in our society.

Come to recognize your authentic voice, have the courage to speak your truth, we can facilitate change. One by one, ripple to wave…

© Lori Walton 2006