One of the most important jobs any leader has is to nurture each person’s voice in their inner circle. Then, it becomes the responsibility of the inner circle members to do the same for those THEY lead. This helps people be themselves and express their thoughts and feelings. People remain or become voiceless if those in power do not create the environment for this.
Without a voluntary voice, a person will only say and do the “safe” thing, which is ALWAYS less than their potential to accomplish. For most people, how they present themselves publicly depends on their relationship with those in power over them. If people feel respected, heard, and understood, they WILL be open and full contributors to whatever they are doing and with whomever they are doing it with. This should happen in our homes, schools, work, and personal relationships.
To speak one’s mind is supposedly a birthright. Every human’s right from a baby’s first yelp to expressing themselves through various sounds, tears, and, eventually, words. It’s as natural as breathing. As true as this is, so is it that too many voices are denied, forced to remain silent, or respond with false sounds instead.
While forced silence is unnatural, it still happens as a process of self-protection. We are supported throughout our life experiences to be ourselves, naturally, or to be what others in power want us to be, which is entirely unnatural. Some of us fight, even if we lose, and fight again to be ourselves; death is no barrier to being or not being.
How sad for relationships, when regardless of circumstances, those who hold any degree of power use it to keep others from being the “SELF” they (and we) are all born to be.
I am ME not you—Your are YOU and no one else—respect is a must.
Sy
