Super-Leaders
One of my favorite undergraduate assignments was in a creative writing course. To better understand character development, the professor asked the class to write three non-consecutive snapshots from our autobiography.
My first snapshot was a look inside the mind of 6-year-old me, trepidatiously walking toward my brother’s hospital bed after his surgery to remove a brain tumor.
This experience played a pivotal role in my life. At the moment, I just wanted to know if my brother’s memory stood firm after surgery, now I know that that moment and the experiences to follow contributed to my ability to navigate later trials in my personal and professional life. My brother’s illness exposed me to experiences that introduced me to the concepts of agency, empathy, confidentiality, responsibility, problem-solving and ability difference.
This experience now serves as a highlight in my leadership origin story.
Most often, origin stories are associated with our favorite superheroes. The origin story provides context around the superhero’s commitment to their powers and the impact they have on others whether good or bad. Remnants of their origin story show up throughout the superhero’s career, and dedicated fans pick up on references and character traits connected to the superhero’s origin story.
But, what does this have to do with leadership?
Leaders are the superheroes of organizations, and each leader has an origin story. Similar to a superhero, leaders hold power in organizations and the process by which they execute those powers are often connected back to their origin story.
At 6-years-old, I did not have the capacity to see how my current experience would positively contribute to future experiences. I always knew the experience carried a heavy weight in my life, but it was not until years later that I began to see references connected back to my origin story.
From having the know-how to empathize with constituents and volunteers navigating the healthcare system to working with students experiencing ability differences, my origin story gave me the bandwidth to lead effectively in these spaces.
Understanding our leadership origin stories can give us a better understanding of ourselves and how we show up for others.
Now, it’s your turn.
One of my favorite books that supports the importance of understanding our leadership origin story is True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership. The book’s self-guided activities give leaders the context for their beliefs and the space to reflect on how takeaways from personal experiences may be referenced in their professional life.
Every leader deserves to know their origin story so that they can better understand their why and how they became the superhero they are.
“Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” - Iron Man
