Monthly Archives: November 2015

Jim Wallis: Conviction, Purpose, Action

Throughout Discover Your True North, successful individuals discuss how they became authentic leaders. This forum is a chance to delve deeper into the thoughts and journeys of these influential leaders. In this profile, we will talk about the importance of turning purpose into action with Sojourners founder Jim Wallis.

Thank you for joining us, Jim. You’re one of this nation’s leading social justice activists. We know it’s hard work—you’ve been arrested more than 20 times during protests. What keeps you going?

One word: faith. I absolutely, without a doubt, 100% know my purpose in this world, and it is to care for those who need fighting for — the poor, the hungry, the marginalized. That is both my job and my passion, and it has been for my entire adult life.

You’ve been a part of some very famous protests, including the student strike that shut down Michigan State University after the violence at Kent State University in 1970. That was a very volatile time in America’s history. What was it like for you?

I’ve been tear-gassed more times than I can remember, for one thing. Then and now, I’m taking a public stand about divisive issues that cut right through the noise and hit at the heart of what people believe. To be an evangelical and to be fighting poverty or to be standing against racism or be opposed to the war in Vietnam … that was quite something, especially then. It was like a voice crying out in the wilderness.

And that’s where knowing your purpose comes in. When you talk about your purpose, your True North, you’re talking about the thing that will get you up in the morning and send you back out, even into the wilderness. Everyone has that thing. It’s your vocation — the thing your soul cries out to do. The place where the needs of the world intersect with your gifts. And when you find it, you’ll get up in the morning and pursue it, no matter what.

You founded Sojourners, a progressive Christian organization and movement committed to social justice, at that same time period, and you’ve spent your life building it. It’s now a nationally renowned organization. But even though you’re the spiritual advisor to President Obama and a nationally respected figure, you’re still very challenging of established structures.

I’m not afraid of being challenging. I have been since the ‘70’s. The accomplishments of the Civil Rights movement were only possible because many brave Americans, including many Christians, non-violently disobeyed unjust laws and the authorities who sought to enforce them.

So I will continue to fight for the justice I believe in. I will continue to try to protect the marginalized and vulnerable that I see all around me, and all around the world. To lift them up, and to act to change the conditions that have created their oppression. And I will try to convince everyone I can that it’s absolutely necessary.

Those are powerful words. What started you down this path?

It all started at church. I grew up in an all-white neighborhood in Detroit, and my pastor would say things about how Jesus loved all the children of the world, and I thought — “Well, how come I don’t see any black people here?” But when I asked, I was told that I was too young, or that I’d get in trouble for asking these questions. Once a church elder told me, “Jim, you have to understand that Christianity has nothing to do with racism: that is political, and our faith is personal.”

And I left that church. Because the political is personal. Christianity is about race. It is about every issue in which someone is taken advantage of, oppressed. At this moment in our country, race is at the foremost of those issues. My next book will be about that.

Thank you for your time today, Jim. Your conviction is deeply inspiring. We just have one more question: What do you have to say to tomorrow’s leaders?

Build a better world. It’s that simple. Find your purpose, put it into action, and use it to create a more just, generous and sustainable world. And as you journey toward your True North, deeper and deeper into the heart of what you truly believe, I think you’ll find out that you have the power to do so.

Moving from “I” to “We”

Leaders of tomorrow are not solitary figures but unifiers, people who can rally anch9blogimage organization around a clear vision. To do this well, leaders must transition from “I” mentality to “We” mentality, and dedicate their lives to working for the good of others. To get here, leaders must be motivated by intrinsic rewards like gaining satisfaction from team success and positively impacting their communities.

It is a journey, moving from a focus on one’s self to a genuine concern for the group, but a necessary one. The transition from “I” thinking to “We” thinking is also something leaders must ask of others, as people find satisfaction in strides taken together.

The employees of tomorrow demand empowerment

We have talked about work-life integration and the push to have employees bring their whole selves to work. This integration is one reason “We” leadership is so critical. Leaders today must unite fully formed employees with their own opinions and perspectives. When an organization is filled with engaged people, this collective mentality is indispensible.

Studies show Millennials are interested in a workplace that values what they value and respects their need to thrive outside the office. When they find these qualities, Millennials are loyal to their organizations. Millennials are looking for “work families” and an authentic environment centered on relationships, rather than just tasks.

The call for leaders to respect the lives of others while honoring their own life commitments is a cornerstone of Discover Your True North.

A third of all workers in America are Millennials, and they will make up half of the workforce by 2020. Authentic leaders are moving in their direction, but managers who fail to shift their thinking from “I” to “We” will be unable to recruit the most valuable employees.

Are you on the way to “We”?

In the 20th century, people thought that the way to become a leader was to rise to power and get others to follow them. That’s no longer true. Today, everyone can become a leader if they act authentically, and are able to define a way forward for a group of like-minded, motivated people.

As you begin to look at your life and think about how you are growing as a leader, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does my life matter? To whom?
  • What’s the purpose of my life and my leadership?
  • Will I leave a legacy behind?

These questions often require cognitive reframing. They force you to look deeper into your motivations and style of leadership to determine if you are leading for the right reasons. Is it money you’re after? Recognition? Or do you want to impact the lives of others? This ongoing shift from extrinsic to intrinsic motivations is a motif throughout Discover Your True North and one of the more important steps in becoming a “We” leader.

Are you one of tomorrow’s great leaders?

There are numerous books on leadership, but the process for becoming an authentic one is laid out clearly in Discover Your True North. It’s not about following a list of Do’s and Don’ts — it’s about being true to your authentic self and letting this awareness inform how you interact with others. Discovering your True North and becoming a well-rounded and companionate leader will require the shift to being invested in the success of others.

Much like becoming self-aware, this is an ongoing process. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself one question: Do I want to exert power over others, or an authentic leader who empowers others? As you discover your True North, the answer will become clear.

Learn more about this topic in Chapter 9: I to We